The Task Force Tubbataha on Wednesday announced that the salvaging team of the ill-fated USS Guardian will start to work on a 24/7 basis once the weather improves to make-up for the lost time in the previous days due to rough sea conditions.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Palawan district commander and task force chief Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said that choppy seas with waves up to two meters in height and winds with speed reaching 25-knots are currently affecting the progress of the salvaging operations causing the task force to halt the operations in the area.
Evangelista said that as of the moment the weather condition in the area is still unfavorable though it is much better compared to the previous days.
“ Still our priority is the safety of the team conducting the operations. We won’t risk if the weather is unfavorable to us but once the weather improves, we will try to work 24/7 ”, Evangelista stressed.
He added that the salvaging team already requested a number of lighting equipment which will be installed aboard USS Guardian so that the vessels conducting salvaging operations can work even during night time.
USS Guardian (MCM 5) ran aground on Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17, while transiting the Sulu Sea.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, March 7, 2013