PH, US divers practice diving techniques on shipwreck in Manila Bay

Cdr. Edgardo Hernando, chief of the PCG Special Operations Group, some of whose members joined the diving exercises with US Navy divers. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard)

Philippine and US divers practiced diving techniques on a shipwreck in Manila Bay this week, the US Embassy in Manila said on Saturday.

“US Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1) and members of the Philippine Coast Guard Special Operations Group (PCGSOG) participated in a combined information exchange and diving survey on the sunken vessel MV Captain Ufuk in Manila Bay’s South Harbor,” the embassy said in a statement.

The activity focused on ship salvage techniques, diving operations, side scan sonar, remotely-operated vehicle operations, damage control, de-watering, as well as cutting and welding.

The PCGSOG personnel also toured the USNS Salvor, the Safeguard-class salvage ship from which the US. Navy divers and salvage personnel operate during this activity.

The MV Captain Ufuk sank roughly a year ago, posing a hazard to navigation in Manila Bay, the embassy said.

The activity also aimed to gather more information to plan for refloating and relocating the MV Captain Ufuk at a later date.

The commander of PCGSOG, Cdr. Edgardo Hernando, met with the MSDU-1 dive teams as well as engineering and salvage representatives from US Combined Task Force 73, who will be joining in a long-term engagement plan to facilitate combined operations in the future to refloat and salvage the vessel, the embassy said. –Frances Mangosing /atm