Crane ship's anchoring problems delay USS Guardian salvage work

source: www.gmanetwork.com

Efforts to remove the US minesweeper USS Guardian from Tubbataha Reef hit another snag Saturday after a crane ship helping in the salvage operations had problems dropping anchor on the seabed.

As of Saturday, the crane ship SMIT Borneo successfully dropped only one of its four anchors, according to a report on "24 Oras."

"Kailangan maganda ang bite ng anchor sa seabed. Nakita nila kung hindi maganda ang bite ng anchor sa seabed... maaring magkaroon ng disgrasya," said Commodore Enrico Evangelista, head of Task Force Tubbataha.

So long as the crane ship is not properly anchored, the salvage operations cannot start, he added.

The task force decided not to continue with the anchoring of the SMIT Borneo for the day.

In the meantime, the task force is also waiting for a second, more powerful crane ship to arrive from Singapore. The report said the ship may arrive in Palawan Feb. 15.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard said it expects the salvage work to be completed in as little as two to three weeks, but only if the weather cooperates.

Meanwhile, the report said the US Navy has estimated the damage to Tubbataha Reef at 4,000 square meters. — LBG, GMA News