US coughs up for navy damage to Philippines reef

(CNS): The Philippines has been compensated by the US government to the tune of almost $2 million to cover the costs of a reef restoration project after admitting its culpability when a naval minesweeper ran aground there and damaged some 25,240 sqft of coral in 2013. Meanwhile, in Cayman no one has taken responsibility for the significant damage six months ago to a reef in the George Town harbour when it was crushed by a cruise ship anchor.

The USS Guardian minesweeper hit the Tubbataha Reef, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and had to be dismantled to avoid causing further damage. The BBC reported that the Philippine foreign ministry said it had received the full amount requested from the US, which was paid last month. The US had apologised and removed four officers, including the commanding officer, for not following standard procedures after the incident. A US Navy investigation into the incident found it was “wholly preventable” and a result of poor planning and “numerous” errors.

In August last year the Carnival Magic cruise ship crushed nearly 12,000 sqft of coral reef in the harbour when a local pilot-boat operated by Bodden Shipping Agency guided the ship to anchor outside of the designated public port anchorage.

Following the incident, both the cruise line and the Port Authority pointed to the agent as the culpable entity. Carnival issued a statement in the wake of the reef’s destruction saying it placed “extraordinary importance on preserving the pristine and sensitive marine environment in the Cayman Islands” and that every precaution is taken to ensure ships do not damage any marine habitat.

“We employ the services of a local harbour pilot to provide our captains with very specific instructions on where to drop the anchor,” the cruise line stated, adding that on the day of the damage it was directed to the location by the local pilot and the Port Authority. “We are closely examining this very important matter,” the statement read but there has been no other public comment from the cruise line since, though it is understood that it has been in talks with government.

Although the Marine Conservation Law allows for criminal proceedings against those who damage the reefs, in this case because two government agencies could be pitted against each other in a costly, lengthy legal combat using tax payers’ money, the authorities have failed to press the issue.

The Department of Environment has been hoping government will encourage contributions from the parties involved, including the cruise line, as it says it needs at least $2 million to help with efforts, so far entirely voluntary, to repair the reef.

While the area damaged is around half of that crushed in the Philippines, where the government has received $1.97 million to cover the repair costs, the extent of the damage in Cayman and the cost of restoration here could end up costing many times that amount.

At this point, continuing to deny its culpability, the cruise line has not made any donations to the ongoing Magic Reef recovery project. Bodden Shipping has remained silent on the issue and made no public admissions or denials about the role of its pilot.

As a result, attempts at restoring the reef have fallen to volunteers from the diving community in partnership with the DoE. Local dive and watersports operators, divers and visitors have been working diligently for almost six months to remove the debris and recover as much live coral as possible that can be reattached.

As they press on, a fundraising event is planned for next Friday 27 February at the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal after the cruise ship traffic has cleared. Organizers are lining up music entertainment and a silent auction to raise cash in the absence of any compensation or fines for the damage.