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“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the United States Navy for assisting with the removal of vessels from our harbor,” said Hon. Jennifer Anson, Palau’s National Security Coordinator. “Abandoned and derelict vessels in our harbor pose a threat to our pristine ocean environment and can cause unnecessary damage to our marine resources. They negatively affect tourism, which is an important part of our economy. Visitors come to Palau expecting to experience clean, pristine oceans and beautiful marine environments, and protecting these resources helps support our local businesses, communities, and economy. We applaud the dedication of the United States Navy in being an active partner and working alongside us to protect and preserve Palau’s ocean and marine environment for generations to come.”
U.S. Navy divers assigned to Commander, Task Group (CTG) 73.6, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 9, and U.S. 7th Fleet's deployed salvage force arrived in July 2026 to meet and coordinate with various local Palauan government entities and organizations, including the Koror State government, the Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement, the Republic of Palau’s Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries, and the Environmental Quality Protection Board. Interagency meetings were held to address the process of removing the ADVs and minimize the risk of danger to local bodies of water.
“Getting to work out here is amazing. We've met with the governor and the president and have had a lot of support from them,” said Navy Diver 1st Class Gabriel Gaona, assigned to EODMU 9. “These ships have been wrecked here for a few years. The Environmental Quality Bureau [has] big oversight on this, making sure we get these things properly cleared.”
ADVs Palau Tuna, Old Bay, and Justice 1 were privately owned commercial fishing vessels that operated in Malakal Harbor for several years.
In October 2020, Typhoon Molave passed through the region, causing the three fishing vessels to break loose from their mooring lines at Malakal Harbor and run aground at separate locations in the Koror State waterways.
After almost five years aground in the waterways, the ADVs began to pose environmental hazards in their respective locations.
“With the engine rooms flooded and water freely moving in and out of them internally to the ship, there was black oil all over the place and other things that would be harmful to this pristine harbor,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Anderson, U.S. 7th Fleet dive and salvage officer assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73. “...this team actually completed about 1,500 gallons of bulk hazmat removal prior to actually pulling on them, ultimately eliminating the environmental risk this had on the harbor.”
The team cleaned each wreck site of debris and environmental pollutants, old refrigerant, and fuel before repositioning the vessels away from natural structures such as coral reefs or tree lines, utilizing chains, straps, shackles, cables, Yokohama fenders, and commercially contracted tug vessels. The team then made necessary structural adjustments to each vessel to prepare them for towing and at-sea disposal.
“Once we bring them out to where the range is, we get the coordinates where we sink it, and those actually become artificial reefs,” said Gaona.
During the month-long operation, EODMU 9 divers faced challenges unique to each ADV location, shaped by the positions the vessels had assumed after years of abandonment.
“I really wanted to put this mission under Pacific Partnership 2026 to really show not only Joint Task Force Micronesia and the other military agencies, but also all of the countries Pacific Partnership visits that we keep our promises,” said Anderson. “When you're an ally with the United States of America, we're going to come through and lend a hand.”
With multiple dive and salvage projects slated in the Indo-Pacific region into the next year, CTG 73.6 and EODMU 9 will have the opportunity to continue fulfilling those promises.
Now in its 22nd iteration, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships.
For updates and multimedia from Pacific Partnership 2026, follow #PacificPartnership and #PP26 on social media or visit:https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/PacificPartnership
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