Part of the Guardian being removed by a crane on March 26, 2013. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders/Released)
Apr 08, 2013
The U.S. government has been fined $1.5 million for damages the Navy caused when one of its minesweepers rammed into a World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines, officials announced on Monday.
2,345.67 square meters of the Tubbataha reef were damaged, according to an assessment led by US Navy marine biologist Lee Shannon from April 3 - 5, far less than the 4,100 square meters the previous survey had estimated were damaged when the USS Guardian smashed into the reef.
Tubbataha Reef park superintendent Angelique Songco slammed the fine as merely "a slap on the wrist" for the US.
UPI reports that Former Philippine Sen. Jamby Madrigal, author of the Tubbataha Protected Area Act, called the fine "loose change compared to the long-term damage to the reef" and said "offenders must be taught hard lessons."
The Guardian reportedly ignored warnings to avoid the area when it ran aground on the reef. After the grounding, the minesweeper was broken apart into pieces to extricate it from the pristine area.
The US Navy reported that the commanding officer and three other crew members of the Guardian were relieved of their duties last week. "The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures. The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence," the Navy said in a statement.
At a decommissioning ceremony for the ship last month, however, the crew was hailed for its "extraordinary heroism" during the incident.
____________________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The U.S. government has been fined $1.5 million for damages the Navy caused when one of its minesweepers rammed into a World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines, officials announced on Monday.
2,345.67 square meters of the Tubbataha reef were damaged, according to an assessment led by US Navy marine biologist Lee Shannon from April 3 - 5, far less than the 4,100 square meters the previous survey had estimated were damaged when the USS Guardian smashed into the reef.
Tubbataha Reef park superintendent Angelique Songco slammed the fine as merely "a slap on the wrist" for the US.
UPI reports that Former Philippine Sen. Jamby Madrigal, author of the Tubbataha Protected Area Act, called the fine "loose change compared to the long-term damage to the reef" and said "offenders must be taught hard lessons."
The Guardian reportedly ignored warnings to avoid the area when it ran aground on the reef. After the grounding, the minesweeper was broken apart into pieces to extricate it from the pristine area.
The US Navy reported that the commanding officer and three other crew members of the Guardian were relieved of their duties last week. "The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures. The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence," the Navy said in a statement.
At a decommissioning ceremony for the ship last month, however, the crew was hailed for its "extraordinary heroism" during the incident.
____________________________
The U.S. government has been fined $1.5 million for damages the Navy caused when one of its minesweepers rammed into a World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines, officials announced on Monday.
2,345.67 square meters of the Tubbataha reef were damaged, according to an assessment led by US Navy marine biologist Lee Shannon from April 3 - 5, far less than the 4,100 square meters the previous survey had estimated were damaged when the USS Guardian smashed into the reef.
Tubbataha Reef park superintendent Angelique Songco slammed the fine as merely "a slap on the wrist" for the US.
UPI reports that Former Philippine Sen. Jamby Madrigal, author of the Tubbataha Protected Area Act, called the fine "loose change compared to the long-term damage to the reef" and said "offenders must be taught hard lessons."
The Guardian reportedly ignored warnings to avoid the area when it ran aground on the reef. After the grounding, the minesweeper was broken apart into pieces to extricate it from the pristine area.
The US Navy reported that the commanding officer and three other crew members of the Guardian were relieved of their duties last week. "The initial investigation findings clearly indicate that the CO, Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice; the executive officer (XO)/navigator, Lt. Daniel Tyler; the assistant navigator; and the officer of the deck at the time of the grounding did not adhere to standard U.S. Navy navigation procedures. The U.S. Navy has the highest accountability standards, and all four Sailors were relieved by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley due to their role in the grounding and a loss of confidence," the Navy said in a statement.
At a decommissioning ceremony for the ship last month, however, the crew was hailed for its "extraordinary heroism" during the incident.
____________________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.