US sailors abandon ship stuck in Tubbataha
January 18, 2013 | 5:03pm
MANILA, Philippines - US sailors have abandoned the ill-fated USS Guardian, a United States (US) Navy minesweeper that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef in Palawan province early Thursday.
Informed sources told The Philippine STAR on Friday that the decision to abandon ship apparently came after it was already established that the USS Guardian is beyond recovery as it incurred major damage and that it could sink anytime.
“Malaki ang damage ng barko at unti-unti ng lumulubog†said the source. The source said that several Philippine Navy gunboats and patrol ships from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been deployed in the area.
The ill-fated US warship was sailing to Palawan after its port call at Subic Bay last Sunday when it ran around on the reef, some 90 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City.
The ship's at least 80 crewmembers reportedly declined to accept any assistance from their local counterparts and only left their listing warship following the arrival of a US-chartered civilian vessel MV C-Champion at about 10 a.m. Friday.
“Inayawan nila ang alok nating tulong. They only abandoned ship upon the arrival of a US-chartered civilian vessel, MV C-Champion, kasi pinasok ng tubig ang barko nila,†the source said.
The source, meanwhile, declined to comment when asked of the environmental hazard that the ill-fated ship poses.
“The Tubbataha Marine Management, which to my knowledge is now assessing the initial damage to coral reefs brought about the mishap, can best address that concern,†the source said.
Maj. Oliver Banaria, commander of the Palawan-based Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 6th Civil Relations Group, said the US warship remains stuck on the reef.
Banaria also confirmed that despite the mishap, crewmembers and officers of the ill-fated US warship, remained in their vessel and has not requested any help or assistance, except for releasing a communication informing their local counterparts about the mishap.
“As of now, they haven’t requested for our help nor they have expressed their intention that they need our assistance,†Banaria said.
It could not be immediately established if the USS Guardian is also participating in next week's joint PHL-US Marine joint war games in the West Philippine Sea.
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