M/V Voyager successfully removed from Piti Channel, sunk offshore by joint responders

Courtesy Photo | Members of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam’s waterways and incident management divisions observe the sinking of the 116-foot Indonesian-flagged M/V Voyager 22 miles offshore of Guam on Oct. 2, 2025. The vessel grounded adjacent to Piti Channel during Typhoon Mawar in May 2023, posing ongoing navigation risks, particularly for small passenger vessels homeported in the harbor of refuge or vessels seeking shelter during adverse weather or potential natural disasters. In a coordinated effort to overcome significant regulatory and jurisdictional challenges, the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Guam, and U.S. Navy successfully relocated and sank the motor vessel Voyager offshore on Oct. 2, 2025, eliminating its partial obstruction of the Piti Channel and restoring unimpeded access to the harbor of refuge. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Laurel Seigrist)  

SANTA RITA, GUAM

12.31.1969

Story by Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir                  

U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam

SANTA RITA, Guam — In a coordinated effort overcoming regulatory and jurisdictional challenges, the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Guam, and U.S. Navy successfully relocated and sunk the motor vessel Voyager offshore, Oct. 2, eliminating its partial obstruction of Piti Channel and restoring unimpeded access to the harbor of refuge.

"This operation underscores our shared commitment to the maritime transportation system in Guam and the Marianas," said U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Guam and the Marianas Capt. Jessica Worst. "We've navigated complex regulatory landscapes and jurisdictional boundaries since before the grounding, and while past constraints tested our resolve, this partnership with the Navy and Port of Guam delivered an ideal outcome by clearing the channel without further environmental risk. We remain vigilant as typhoon season continues, but today's success reaffirms our dedication to collaborative stewardship."

The 116-foot Indonesian-flagged M/V Voyager grounded adjacent to Piti Channel during Typhoon Mawar in May 2023, posing ongoing risks to navigation, particularly for small passenger vessels homeported in the harbor of refuge or vessels seeking shelter during adverse weather or potential natural disasters.

The U.S. Coast Guard, under the oversight of the Captain of the Port, led an initial pollution response in 2023, successfully removing approximately 7,200 gallons of fuel and hydraulic oil from the vessel, mitigating immediate threats to Guam's marine environment. However, limits on U.S. Coast Guard jurisdiction, limited authority over submerged obstructions in non-federally maintained waterways, and resource constraints prevented full removal of the vessel at that time.

Through a valuable interagency partnership, the U.S. Navy's expertise addressed many hurdles during a routine salvage training exercise. Beginning Sept. 15, Navy divers and salvage teams from the Navy’s Task Force 73, salvage firm Smit International, the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, and the Navy’s Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, in coordination with Port of Guam personnel and U.S. Coast Guard waterways management and incident management personnel, prepared documentation and the vessel for safe relocation by reducing its weight and stabilizing its structure.

"The Port of Guam is relieved to see the Piti Channel fully navigable once more, especially for our small vessel fleet that is based in the harbor of refuge, designated as a critical safe haven," said Port of Guam Harbormaster Chris Flores. "Hosting the vessel at Pier F6 allowed us to support the cleanup while minimizing disruptions, and we're deeply appreciative of the Navy's technical prowess and the Coast Guard's oversight that turned months of planning into this near-seamless execution. This restores confidence for our operators facing the uncertainties of weather and tides."

On Sept. 23, the team successfully refloated the M/V Voyager and towed it to Pier F6 at the Port of Guam. There, teams meticulously removed approximately 25 tons of loose debris, plastics, and glass, and addressed remaining onboard machinery to ensure full compliance with Environmental Protection Agency requirements to turn the vessel into an artificial reef.

The morning of Oct. 2, the crew of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command vessel USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) towed the prepared vessel approximately 22 nautical miles offshore to a pre-designated EPA-approved site in waters exceeding 2,800 feet in depth. The MDSU-1 personnel sank the vessel by cutting holes in the hull and flooding it. They conducted the towing and sinking evolutions under a temporary safety zone enacted and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard to protect responders and mariners, marking the safe and final resolution of this long-standing issue.

"As the premier naval deep-sea diving and salvage force in the Pacific, Task Force 73 is always looking for high-value training opportunities for our salvors," said U.S. 7th Fleet Salvage Officer Lt. Cmdr. Chris Anderson. "Partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Port of Guam allowed us to leverage our capabilities under existing authorities, ensuring the Voyager's removal was efficient and compliant. Our team was incredibly pleased to serve the Guam community and grateful for their support during the operation."

This resolution follows extensive stakeholder engagement, including a December 2023 meeting where local commercial operators expressed concerns about channel access, typhoon season, and long-term solutions. The agencies continue to explore federal designation options for future Piti Channel maintenance and appreciate the patience of Guam's maritime community amid prior delays.

-USCG-

About our U.S. Navy partners CLWP/CTF 73 commands, controls, and coordinates theater logistics and sustainment to conduct Distributed Maritime and Expeditionary Advanced Based Operations in competition, crisis, and conflict. Through a strong and resilient global network of joint and combined partners, we will establish the Logistics Domain to deliver integrated operational logistics options, information superiority, and enhanced Naval Integration, sustaining the Naval, Joint, and Combined Forces.

U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving provides technical, operational, and emergency contract support in marine salvage, towing, pollution control and abatement, diving and diving system safety and certification, diving and salvage equipment procurement, and underwater ship husbandry.

Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 is the U.S. Navy's premier unit for underwater diving and salvage operations, capable of deploying specialized dive teams globally to perform tasks such as harbor clearance, underwater repairs, salvage, and underwater search and recovery. Based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawai’i, MDSU-1 is a subordinate unit of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One and operates under the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.

About U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, including our cutter and boat crews, ensures maritime safety, security, and prosperity across the Micronesia region while supporting U.S. national interests at home and abroad. Operating under the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard remains a multi-mission force dedicated to protecting the United States’ borders, enabling commerce, and fostering partnerships that enhance regional stability.

For more information on U.S. Coast Guard aspects, please contact CWO Sara Muir, Public Affairs Officer, at [e-mail] or [e-mail].

For more information on U.S. Navy aspects, please contact Grady T. Fontana, Public Affairs Officer, Military Sealift Command Far East, Singapore at [e-mail].

For more on the Port of Guam, please visit https://www.portofguam.com.

• Date Taken: 12.31.1969
• Date Posted: 12.11.2025 18:52
• Story ID: 553811
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU