Cause of USS Guardian’s Grounding under Scrutiny

The Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigating Officer for the USS GUARDIAN (MCM 5) grounding that occurred on Jan. 17, 2013, Capt. John L. Schultz, met with the Republic of the Philippines Assistant Secretary, Office of the Under Secretary for Special and Ocean Concerns, Gilberto G.B. Asuque, and the Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) Chairman,Vice Commandant for Operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Rear Adm. Luis M. Tuason, aboard the Seventh Fleet Flag Ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19).

The main objective of the meeting was to review information surrounding the grounding of the mine countermeasure ship on Tubbataha Reef. Vice Chairman, MCIT PCG Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, and MCIT member PCG Capt. Rolando Lizor N. Punzalan also attended the meeting.

To remind, the U.S. Navy and contracted salvage personnel embarked onboard the U.S. Navy contracted crane vessel M/V Jascon 25 completed on March 30th the removal of the grounded mine countermeasures ship Ex-Guardian from the Tubbataha Reef.

The final section of the hull, the stern section, which weighed approximately 250 tons, was safely lifted from the reef.

Along with the Jascon 25, the USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), the SMIT Borneo, the Trabajador, the Intrepid and the Archon Tide remained on scene supporting the cleanup operation.

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Naval Today Staff, April 5, 2013; Image: Philippine Coast Guard