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Guam salvage operation on grounded ship is completed
APRA HARBOR, Guam—Salvage operations and cleanup efforts of Daiki Maru 7 have successfully concluded with a final meeting of the unified command on Naval Base Guam on May 23.
Since the Japanese commercial fishing vessel ran aground in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 13, the Navy and its partners have conducted recovery and salvage operations with focus on the protection of the environment.
Leaders from the unified command, which is tasked to implement, execute and manage salvage operations for the Daiki Maru 7, pose for a photo following a meeting declaring the operation has been successfully completed May 23. Since Feb. 13, the Navy and it partners have collectively performed recovery and salvage operations of the grounded Japanese vessel while mitigating environmental damage to outer Apra Harbor. (U.S. Navy/Timothy Wilson)
“This operation was an amazing success,” said Capt. Mike Ward, U.S. Naval Base Guam commanding officer. “The response occurred in an environmentally safe manner and it is a great testament to the teamwork involved.”
Ward said lessons learned during the recovery and salvage operations will be reviewed to enable the Navy to improve response efforts for possible future events.
“When incidents like this occur, we always learn from them and the unified command reacted very quickly and collaboratively,” Ward said.
The unified command consists of representatives from 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 and Osroco. (PR)
