Abandoned wreck removed after 26 years

On July 20, 1982, the Nam Sung 62, a commercial fishing vessel transporting its cargo via Guam to Japan was shipwrecked on a reef crest just north of Tatqua Beach on Rota.

For the next 26 years, it rested on the reef crest, deteriorating and breaking apart and dispersing its rusted metal debris and leftover contents throughout the lagoon waters and shoreline.

The all-metal vessel measured 42.50 meters from foreside to stern and weighed an estimated 287 tons.

On Sept. 19, 2007, the Coastal Resources Management Office began the attempt to remove the vessel, with financial assistance of $6,000 awarded through the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with NOAA’s Marine Debris Program.

CRM Rota coastal coordinator William T. Pendergrass, who acted as the Nam Sung project manager, worked with D& J Enterprises owner Fidel Mendiola and Marianas Visitor Authority operations manager Thomas Calvo to spearhead the extraction of the dilapidated vessel’s metal debris, with the help of government and community partners.

“When the vessel removal activities first started we focused on satisfying NFWF grant project deliverables, which specifically outlined removal of the Nam Sung # 62 vessel debris,” said Pendergrass. “This was a challenge because there were separated parts of the vessel almost everywhere within the lagoon waters and the shoreline. The removal activities were dependant on forecasted weather, tidal conditions, equipment operability, manpower availability, and regulatory compliance.

He said the project was successfully completed in the Aug. 24-29, 2008 cleanup. It was estimated that by this time they had removed 80 tons of the vessel’s rusted remains.

It was not enough, though, as there were still several parts of the ship that needed to be removed. Pendergrass said he met with CRMO director John Joyner about the subject and Joyner was receptive to the idea of removing the entire ships wreckage from the coast.

“We were provided an additional $4,401 by the [CRMO] to completely remove all visible wreckage of the Nam Sung from the project site. With new funding the project activities continued again from March 26 and lasted through April 8, 2009. It was estimated that the project removal efforts between the Sept. 19, 2007 start and the April 8, 2009 conclusion resulted in the extraction of over 200 tons of the shipwrecked vessel’s wreckage from the coast of Rota,” said Pendergrass.

In recognition and acknowledgement for participation in the successful extraction of the Nam Sung vessel activities, a special appreciation certificate was awarded by the CRMO to Rota Resort & Country Club, Guam Pacific Power Corp., Rota Marianas Visitor Authority, D&J Enterprises, Rota Department of Public Works, Rota Department of Public Safety, Fred Barcinas (D&J), Shawn Taisacan (DPS), Rai Manglona (DPS), Noel Pumares (D&J), Vicent Manglona (MVA), Murphy Reyes (MVA), Delphin Garcia (MVA), Furukawa Akio (D&J), Thomas Calvo (MVA), Ike Mendiola (Channel Five), Calista Pendergrass (Cape Air/ Continental Connection), Rota Mayor Joseph Inos, Sandra Atalig (MVA), Alfred Maratita (MVA), Mike Manglona (DPW), Gary Toves (DEQ), and Robert Ulloa (DFW). [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]