Environment & Energy

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Mon Feb 4, 2013, 07:57 AM Feb 2013

Damage From US Navy Ship to Pristine Reef Far Worse Than Estimated

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/03

The U.S. Navy-contracted Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes petroleum-based products and human wastewater from the mine countermeasure ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea on Jan. 17. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

With attempts to salvage a US Navy minesweeper stranded in a pristine coral reef in the Philippines not yet underway, reports indicate that the damage the grounding caused to the marine sanctuary is far worse than initially estimated.

The USS Guardian ran aground in the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on Jan. 17 after ignoring warnings from park rangers, and has remained there battling waves and sparking environmental concerns since.

On Saturday, marine park manager Angelique Songco said that at least 4,000 square meters of coral reefs were damaged, four times worse than initial estimates.

8 replies

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Damage From US Navy Ship to Pristine Reef Far Worse Than Estimated (Original Post) xchrom Feb 2013 OP

Not to worry, in 100,000 years or so it will recover ... Scuba Feb 2013 #1

Assuming corals aren't extinct by then NickB79 Feb 2013 #4

The minesweeper is about 224 feet long...which is a slightly more than 65 meters long HereSince1628 Feb 2013 #2

It has moved somewhat forward since the intial grounding. AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #3

The picture in the OP show's it up on the reef along the entire length of the ship HereSince1628 Feb 2013 #6

I'm more concerned about the leaking oil and human shit NickB79 Feb 2013 #5

Oil would be a bad thing, and even a small amount would spread... HereSince1628 Feb 2013 #7

Some photos of the Ship happyslug Feb 2013 #8

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

1. Not to worry, in 100,000 years or so it will recover ...

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 08:40 AM

Feb 2013

... assuming climate change doesn't worsen its prospects.

This is criminal negligence.

NickB79

(19,257 posts)

4. Assuming corals aren't extinct by then

Reply to Scuba (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 03:59 PM

Feb 2013

Well, maybe some will hang on in the Arctic Circle, until the more equatorial oceans cool back down.

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)

2. The minesweeper is about 224 feet long...which is a slightly more than 65 meters long

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 10:23 AM

Feb 2013

The square of 65 is a couple hundred more than 4000.

So, the minesweeper has damaged an area somewhat less than the square of it's length.

That's obviously not a great thing in a world heritage site, but at the same time, it is limited.

The original estimate must have been pretty close to the dimensions of the hull.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

3. It has moved somewhat forward since the intial grounding.

Reply to HereSince1628 (Reply #2)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 03:49 PM

Feb 2013

Presumably why they didn't just yank it backwards after lightening it. Also, it probably rocks considerably from side to side, spreading the damage.

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)

6. The picture in the OP show's it up on the reef along the entire length of the ship

Reply to AtheistCrusader (Reply #3)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:30 PM

Feb 2013

I suspect much of the damage is caused by a combination of bumping, dragging over and force of resting completely on top of the reef at low tide.

The good news seems to be little or no fuel or hydraulic fluid leaking...yet.

I'd expect the reef to recover relatively quickly if the damage doesn't create a change in water current that interferes with recolonization.

NickB79

(19,257 posts)

5. I'm more concerned about the leaking oil and human shit

Reply to HereSince1628 (Reply #2)

Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:00 PM

Feb 2013

The U.S. Navy-contracted Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes petroleum-based products and human wastewater from the mine countermeasure ship USS Guardian

Yuck!