The Salvor: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a significant operation concluding a two-year saga, the USNS 'Salvor' has successfully scuttled the derelict Indonesian expeditionary cruise vessel 'Voyager' (IMO: 6523925) off the coast of Guam. The ship was removed from its grounding near Piti Channel, a protected harbor located just north of Naval Base Guam, following its entrapment during the devastating typhoon Mawar in May 2023. The tow took place on October 2, 2025, marking the end of an arduous journey for the vessel that originally arrived at the Port of Guam in 2021, with the intention of being sold. However, following a Coast Guard inspection that revealed critical structural issues, the sale fell through, leading to the abandonment of the ship and its nine Indonesian crew members by the owner. These crew members endured an extended period without pay, relying on donations and welfare assistance until their repatriation. Legal complexities further stalled the removal of the vessel until its grounding created a pressing need for its extraction due to its status as a navigation hazard and the potential threat it posed to the delicate marine environment. Cleanup operations involved the removal of approximately 51,000 gallons of hazardous waste at a cost of around $800,000. Despite strong consensus on the necessity of the ship's removal, bureaucratic obstacles delayed the operation until the USNS 'Salvor' proposed to undertake the mission as a training exercise for its crew. Funded by the Defense Department’s Innovative Readiness Training program, the vessel towed the 'Voyager' approximately 25 miles offshore, where it was safely sunk at a site approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. This decision was deemed the most environmentally sound and financially efficient solution, considering Guam's isolated geography. The operation saw collaboration from nearly 200 personnel across various agencies, all working diligently to ensure the safe disposal of the ship.

In a significant achievement, the U.S. Navy has successfully retrieved the F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Seahawk, both of which crashed during routine flight operations from the USS 'Nimitz' on October 26. The recovery operation took place on December 5, just over a month after the aircraft went down in the South China Sea, where they lay at a depth of approximately 400 feet. This recovery stands in stark contrast to the Navy's ongoing efforts to retrieve the three Super Hornets lost in the Red Sea, which remain unaccounted for. Leaving the downed aircraft in Chinese waters could have risked valuable intelligence being gained by adversaries, underscoring the urgency of this recovery. The Navy first announced the salvage operation in mid-November, with the USNS 'Salvor (T-ARS 52)', a Safeguard-class salvage ship under the Military Sealift Command, arriving at the site on November 12 to begin the recovery process. This complex operation involved multiple Navy entities including Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73), Task Force 75, and the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), along with the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit. Utilizing a contractor-operated unmanned system onboard a Vessel of Opportunity, the Navy executed a coordinated lift and retrieval of the aircraft. The entire mission was led by Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Andersen, marking a successful collaborative effort across various Navy units including CTF 73, SUPSALV, Task Force 75, HSM 73, VFA 22, and the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit.

In a significant maritime operation, the US Navy has initiated a salvage mission to retrieve two aircraft that plunged into the South China Sea from the USS 'Nimitz' aircraft carrier. The incident, which occurred in late October 2025, involved an F/A-18 Super Hornet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, both of which crashed within a mere 30 minutes of each other. While the precise location of the wrecks remains undisclosed, the US Navy has acknowledged that specialized recovery operations are actively underway. Commander Matthew Comer, spokesperson for the Navy’s 7th Fleet stationed in Japan, confirmed that the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), a Safeguard-class salvage vessel managed by Military Sealift Command, is currently on-site facilitating the recovery efforts. As investigations continue, the cause of the dual aircraft incident has yet to be determined, leaving many questions unanswered.

On December 30, the USS Salvor docked at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, bringing with it debris from a tragic incident involving one of the United States' Osprey transport aircraft. This aircraft met its fateful end on November 29, plunging into the waters near Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, resulting in the loss of all eight crew members aboard. The U.S. military is set to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the salvaged aircraft components. The wreckage was retrieved from the ocean and placed on the salvage vessel’s deck on December 27, indicating a focused mission to recover the aircraft's fuselage. Key among the salvaged items is the aircraft's black box, which is expected to provide critical insights into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The salvaged wreckage consists predominantly of the fuselage of the CV-22 transport aircraft, which was stationed at Yokota Air Base in the western suburbs of Tokyo. The fuselage was discovered submerged in early December near Yakushima Island. So far, the remains of seven airmen have been recovered, and the U.S. Air Force has officially reported the death of all eight crew members. Following the incident, the U.S. military has suspended all Osprey operations globally, including those not involving the Air Force, after preliminary assessments suggested a possible mechanical failure. Simultaneously, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces have halted the flights of their V-22 Ospreys, which are currently stationed at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.

In a significant development for the Royal Canadian Navy, the HMCS Protecteur, a warship severely damaged by a catastrophic fire while in U.S. waters back in February, is currently making its way back to Canadian territory. The vessel set sail from Pearl Harbor on Thursday morning, with the assistance of the U.S. Navy tugboat USNS Salvor. This arduous journey across the North Pacific will ultimately lead the HMCS Protecteur back to its home base at CFB Esquimalt, located near Victoria, British Columbia. On board the USNS Salvor are four Canadian sailors, who are accompanying the ship on its journey home. Navy spokesman Lt.-Cmdr Des James reported, "She's making six knots right now, which is good. From our perspective, everything looks promising." While the return trip is projected to take up to three weeks, contingent on weather conditions, there is speculation that this might be the Protecteur's final voyage.

On January 27, the salvage vessel 'Salvor' arrived at the site where the USS 'Guardian' had run aground. The U.S. Navy announced in a statement on January 29 that they will proceed with dismantling the besieged minesweeper and removing it piece by piece. According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the only viable solution is to cut up the damaged vessel and extract it in manageable sections. This strategic approach is designed to keep salvage equipment stationed in deeper waters, thereby preventing additional damage to the surrounding coral reefs. The dismantling operation will prioritize the safe removal of individual parts of the ship while preventing the release of any hazardous materials. The entire process is projected to take over a month to complete. As part of the initial response, teams have successfully evacuated about 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 671 gallons of lubricating oil, along with other essential items like dry food stores, paints, solvents, and personal belongings left by the crew after the accident on the Tubbataha Reef, situated approximately 80 nautical miles east-southeast of Palawan Island. This operation underscores the Navy's commitment to environmental safety while managing the aftermath of the grounding incident.