Previous Story
New challenge in Daiki Maru salvage operation
Contract salvage teams reassess salvage plans of Daiki Maru 7 after the mooring lines snapped in the early morning hours of April 17 due to large swells. This phase represents the final salvage portion of operations where the vessel will be dissembled in preparation for transport to shore for proper disposal. (U.S. Navy/Timothy Wilson) APRA HARBOR, Guam—The unified command continues salvage operations of the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 in outer Apra Harbor on April 18 despite a new challenge.
On the morning of April 17 the vessel’s mooring lines attached to the on-site barge snapped due to increasing ocean swells. Daiki Maru 7 drifted back toward shore along the same path it was removed and became wedged against the front of the rock it originally rested beside. Salvage teams have shifted their efforts and are using the vessel’s new position to their advantage for swifter removal and demolition.
“Despite the change of sea and surf, the salvage team is able to adjust tactics and continue the safe removal of the vessel from the harbor,” said U.S. Naval Base Guam operations officer Dennis Siler. “The unified command continues to work closely with the responsible party to ensure the vessel is properly demolished and minimizes impact to the area.”
A contract salvage team is utilizing an on-site barge and crane to disassemble the vessel in preparation for transport to shore and proper disposal. All recoverable hazardous materials have been removed from the vessel, which ran aground on Feb. 13.
Contract teams conduct cleanup operations regularly to ensure demolition debris from the vessel does not further impact the environment as salvage continues.
The unified command consists of representatives of Naval Base Guam, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, and the responsible party. Other agencies that have been involved in all aspects of planning from the standup include Joint Region Marianas operations department, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas environmental personnel, NOAA, Guam Fish and Wildlife Service, Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Mammoet Salvage, Cabras Marine, and Osroco. (PR)
