Renewable Revolution

Agelbert NOTE: Anchor dragging on a ship the size of a U.S. Navy’s guided missile cruiser is more evidence that the extremely rough ocean conditions predicted due to Catastrophic Climate Change are increasingly being experienced.   


January 31, 2017 by gCaptain .3K

USS Antietam (CG54). U.S. Navy file photo (at article link)


The U.S. Navy’s guided missile cruiser USS Antietam ran aground off the coast of Yokosuka, Japan on Tuesday, damaging the ship’s props and causing hydraulic oil to spill into the water.

The incident was first reported by the Navy Times. The report, citing two Navy officials familiar with the incident, says the ship grounded after dragging anchor in high winds near its home port of Yokosuka. The grounding caused the ship to dump some 1,100 gallons of oil into the water, the officials said.

The extent of the damage and grounding is unclear, but the U.S. Navy did confirm that the ship damaged during anchoring in a statement obtained by gCaptain.com.

In the statement, the Navy confirmed that the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) damaged its propellers while anchoring in Tokyo Bay in the vicinity of Yokosuka, Japan, Jan. 31. The ship was towed back to port following the incident.

“The ship safely returned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka with the help of tugs. There were no injuries to U.S. or Japanese personnel. The incident did result in the discharge of hydraulic oil into the water,” the Navy statement said.

“The Navy is cooperating with the Government of Japan and Japanese Coast Guard in response to this issue and is taking appropriate measures to minimize impacts to the environment,” the statement added.

The Navy has launched and investigation to assess the full extent of the damage. 

The USS Antietam is homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

http://gcaptain.com/report-us-navy-ship-antietam-runs-aground-off-japan/


Agelbert NOTE: Meanwhile, the Phillipines is requesting help from the NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN (I'm sure the Trumpers are overjoyed... ).


January 31, 2017 by Reuters l 


ReutersMANILA, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he had asked China to help in the fight against Islamic State-linked militants by sending ships to patrol southern waters plagued by raids on commercial vessels.

Speaking to newly promoted army generals, Duterte said he had sought China’s help in dangerous waters in the south to check the activities of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group sustained by piracy and kidnap-for-ransom activities.

A surge in piracy off parts of the Philippines Government is forcing ship-owners to divert vessels through other waters, pushing up costs and shipping times.

Duterte said piracy in the Sulu Sea between eastern Malaysia and the southern Philippines would escalate to levels seen in Somalia, and raise insurance costs for firms and increase prices of consumer goods and services.

“We would be glad if they have their presence there … just to patrol,” Duterte said, adding that China could send coastguard vessels, not necessarily “gray” warships.

“In the Malacca Strait and here in Sulu Sea remains to be a big problem,” he said. The Malacca Strait, between Malaysia’s west coast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, has over the years also been plagued by pirates.

He did not say if China had responded.

The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had an agreement to patrol and tackle the Abu Sayyaf in the Sulu and Celebes Sea after they kidnapped the crew of Indonesian and Malaysian tug boats and South Korean and Vietnamese merchant ships.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana last week said cooperation might be expanded to include Brunei and Singapore. The United States has also expressed concern about the security problem and held exercises with Malaysia and the Philippines last year.

Lorenzana said on Tuesday the military had intensified operations on land with the aim of defeating Abu Sayyaf within six months. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.

http://gcaptain.com/philippines-asks-china-patrol-piracy-plagued-waters/