USS Guardian salvage efforts [Image 3 of 4]

USS MUSTIN, AT SEA

01.28.2013

Courtesy Photo

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet   

A USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) small boat pulls alongside the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) to deliver equipment salvaged from the mine countermeasure ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea on Jan. 17. The grounding and subsequent heavy waves constantly hitting Guardian have caused severe damage, leading the Navy to determine the 23-year-old ship is beyond economical repair and is a complete loss. Since Guardian's grounding, the Navy has been working meticulously to salvage any reusable equipment, retrieve the crew's personal effects, and remove any potentially harmful materials including petroleum-based products. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine coast guard and navy to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects. (U.S. Navy photo)

• Date Taken: 01.28.2013
• Date Posted: 01.31.2013 21:55
• Photo ID: 824486
• VIRIN: 130128-N-ZZ999-003
• Resolution: 4288x2848
• Size: 620.17 KB
• Location: USS MUSTIN, AT SEA