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