US Navy removes 80,000 lbs of underwater obstructions

Over 40 tons or 80,000 lbs of corals and rock formations were removed from the Saipan channel and Tanapag harbor by the U.S. Navy, allowing for the safer navigation of military ships making port visits to the island.

This is the biggest U.S. Navy project of its kind so far on Saipan.

Fifteen U.S. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One Company 1-8 (MDSU-1 CO 1-8), along with personnel from the USNS Safeguard, removed 25 “dangers to navigation” from Jan. 6 to 28.

Jon Klukas, a master diver at the U.S. Navy’s MDSU-1 CO 1-8, said the ultimate goal is to enable military ships that have a deep draft to enter the Saipan channel without damaging the ship.

“What spurred this whole operation is the USS Chancellorsville, which actually hit one of these underwater obstacles several years ago and it did a considerable amount of damage to the sonar dome on that ship. That’s a very expensive repair,” Klukas told Saipan Tribune in an interview aboard the USNS Safeguard yesterday.

Klukas said the project also allows Navy cruisers and destroyers to make port visits on Saipan for rest and recreation, which will help boost economic activities on the island.

Jim Arenovski, president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, yesterday said the more military ships calling on Saipan, the better for the economy.

“They’ve done a good job in removing obstructions from the channel to allow us to get more military ships here for R&R [rest and recreation], and that will help the economy,” he said.

Capt. Ed Dickerson, a U.S. merchant marine with the Military Sealift Command, also said the USNS Safeguard was able to get a lot of work done on Saipan, including repairs and re-supply.

“Saipan has been a good place for re-supply of various items, from gaskets to copy paper,” he said, adding that the ship had at least $51,000 in purchases for re-supply.

Vice Admiral John M. Bird, commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, said in a letter to the USNS Safeguard: “Your success is a significant step forward in enabling DDG and CG class ships to moor pierside in a crucial port and excellent liberty venue.”

Bird said with an operation this complex, there were several instances where personnel could have been severely injured.

“The fact that this mission was completed without incident is a testament to the professionalism of everyone involved,” said Bird.

According to Dickerson, CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial wrote to Rear Admiral William D. French, commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, for assistance in clearing the commercial channel for safer navigation.

Dickerson said French discussed the request with Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson, and it later got the approval of Admiral Bird.

The Seventh Fleet tasked MDSU-1 Company 1-8 and the USNS Safeguard to “locate, remove and dispose of in deep water” the dangers to navigation located within Tanapag harbor and Saipan channel.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Arenovski looks forward to having more ships on the island now that the Saipan channel and Tanapag harbor are clear of obstructions.

“The project shows how important Saipan is as a liberty port. That makes us feel good. It will help the economy,” he said.

Klukas said they also surveyed other areas for future projects on Saipan.

“There are little things in the harbor or outside the channel that we’ll take a look at, evaluating and removing those from the harbor,” he said.

Dickerson and Klukas said the Navy personnel enjoy their stay on Saipan, since the USNS arrived here on Dec. 22. The ship leaves Tuesday.

“We had a fantastic time here. Everybody has been very gracious. Our goal is to be able to come here more and have other U.S. ships come here more because Saipan does offer too much to us—the beauty, the history,” said Klukas.

This is Klukas’ first visit to the CNMI in 15 years. He said he was here 15 years ago for an assignment on Tinian.

The harbor clearance operations team consisted of the combined crew of the USNS Safeguard (26 personnel) and the 15 divers with the MDSU-1 Company 1-8 out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Besides Klukas, the other divers are Randy Duncan, Paul Wotus, Kenny Bontempo, Enrique Martino, Nicholas Zaborski, Jericho Diego, Richard Racette, AJ Grun, Mariano Lorde, Richard Ellis, PJ Odell, Jason Balavram, Brody Dorton and Matt Stinson.

On Monday, the team will brief the Commonwealth Ports Authority about their harbor clearance operations.