Navy prepares to move Ehime Maru to final spot
| • | Special report: Collision at Sea |
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Navy's search for the ninth victim of the Ehime Maru tragedy officially ended yesterday, and preparations start tomorrow to move the ship to its final resting place.
The captain of the Japanese maritime self-defense force ship JDS Chihaya called Navy officials at 2 p.m. yesterday to notify them that Chihaya divers had thoroughly searched the sunken vessel for Takeshi Mizuguchi. The 17-year-old student was one of nine who died when the USS Greeneville rammed the Ehime Maru Feb. 9.
Navy divers made more than 330 dives to the Ehime Maru between Oct. 15 and Nov. 6, and recovered the bodies of eight people. Chihaya divers made an additional 101 dives, but were unable to find Mizuguchi.
Navy Rear Adm. William Klemm, who led the salvage and recovery mission, said the Navy tomorrow will begin preparations to move the Ehime Maru to its final resting place 12.5 miles off Kalaeloa Point. He said the move could begin as early as Nov. 27.
"I'm very confident that we have searched 100 percent of the ship, and have a very high confidence that the ninth party, Mr. Mizuguchi, is not on board the Ehime Maru," Klemm said.
He said he notified the Mizuguchi family, who is in Hawai'i, that the search was over.
"Mrs. Mizuguchi mentioned to me that she felt her son was here in Hawaiian waters and that he was watching this operation and that he would remain in Hawaiian waters to watch out for all of the seamen in this area," Klemm said. "(This was) a very touching tribute and final closure to the Ehime Maru project."
Japan Consul General Minoru Shibuya thanked the Navy for its effort.
"The Ehime Maru accident was a regrettable incident, but the U.S. Navy overcame numerous difficulties and dangers, and despite the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Mainland, completed the unprecedented and difficult operation of lifting the Ehime Maru and then put all its efforts in completing the search and recovery operations," Shibuya said, quoting Shinzo Abe, Japan deputy chief cabinet secretary.
Klemm said the Navy will attempt to remove fuel before the ship is moved. But he said it will be released with about 1,000 gallons distributed throughout.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.
