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http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_portroyal_grounding_020809/
news/2009/02/ap_portroyal_grounding_020809
news/2009/02/ap_portroyal_grounding_020809
Latest try to free grounded Port Royal fails
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 9, 2009 6:44:47 EST
Posted : Monday Feb 9, 2009 6:44:47 EST
HONOLULU — The Navy’s latest attempt to free a $1 billion warship grounded off the Hawaii coast failed early Sunday, a spokeswoman said.
Tugboats and a salvage ship tried unsuccessfully for four hours to pull the Port Royal from a rock and sand shoal. The guided missile cruiser ran aground Thursday evening, about a half-mile south of the Honolulu airport.
The latest effort “provided more pulling power” than two previous tries, but it was not enough to refloat the warship, said Pacific Fleet spokeswoman Agnes T. Tauyan.
“Right now, now we’re assessing options on how to proceed,” Tauyan said.
The Navy on Saturday moved fuel, water and some personnel off the 9,600-ton vessel that should it make about 200 tons lighter.
The 15-year-old Port Royal had just ended a four-month routine maintenance visit to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and was finishing the first day of sea trials when it ran aground while unloading some personnel into a small boat.
No one was injured and no contaminants leaked. Rear Admiral Joseph Walsh, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said the ship was structurally sound.
READ MORE: Previous story
MARCO GARCIA / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Several efforts to release the Port Royal after it ran aground near Honolulu have been unsuccessful.
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