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Our news team was out on Middle Caye from yesterday, all through the night until this morning to monitor efforts at getting the ship removed - Courtney Weatherburne has an extensive report from the site.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Bags of crystal water, sacks and knapsacks of supplies and equipment were brought out to the Coast Guard vessel yesterday morning - only a few were loaded on the vessel.

After the fuel and gear were onboard, our long journey to Glovers Reef began and he boat swayed unto to open sea at 11:30.

We had to make a scheduled stop at South Water Caye to pick up a Fisheries officer. He was heading out for the onsite assessment.

Then at about 2:30 in the afternoon we arrived at Middle Caye in Glovers Reef. Coast Guard officers were already stationed on the Caye.

Just beyond the island the 64 ton aluminum Guatemalan Naval vessel was perched above the reef.

The path leading to the vessel was too shallow so we had to take a motor boat to get closer to the war ship.

As we approached, we saw Guatemalan and Belizean personnel on board - the Guatemalan flag above - flapping defiantly in the midafternoon breeze.

This is as far as we could go and the Coast Guard Commander came to update us on the investigation so far.

Commander Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant, Coast Guard
"The Fisheries Department called us at about midnight last night. They said that somewhere around 11 o' clock they notice the vessel ran aground. Immediately they started to call the different agencies. We received the call around 12 and we started our plans to deploy a unit from the headquarters and one from Calabash Caye. We arrived before first light this morning and we did our safety patrol in the area. From my initial look around the vessel - I look at the chart that they were using, I could see where they plotted the different points and one of the way points would have been just outside Glover's Reef and that's where they started to drift. They explained they started to drift from there. From what I saw, it could have been in line with what they are claiming as a propulsion problem."

Now that seems straightforward enough - but in reality it isn't, the overall assessment is a long and tedious process.

Commander Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant, Coast Guard
"What we are doing now is to do our initial assessment. The assessment team from the Department of the Environment along with Port Authority and the Fisheries Department will look at the damage done to the reef system. We also look at the mechanical or navigational paths of that investigation. Once we are finish with that initial part of the investigation we will try to remove the vessel. Once that vessel is removed, we will then do another inspection. Once that inspection is completed then the team will forward its results to be disseminate up the chain. One team will look at the environment part of it and another team will look at the navigation. Our navigation investigation will look at the engine system. They claim that the engine system was a failure. That's the reason why they were washed up ashore. We also look at the navigation system on board, if they were taking fixes along the way. We look at their logs to see what type of operations were running from the bridge."

But the most arduous task of the entire marine operation would be getting the gunboat off the reef or in this case - at least steadily shifting its direction.

The second Guatemalan vessel - which was just outside the 12 mile range of territorial sea - was used to tug the other.

The boat tugged and tugged until the engine was over-heated and smoke billowed out. This attempt began at 5:00 pm and continued until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a message instructing the team to keep the vessel grounded on the reef for tonight and to ensure it doesn't leave.

Courtney Weatherburne
"These lights sparkling in the distance, may resemble the steady and gentle burring of two candles beneath a starless sky. But there is more beyond the beauty and the mystery of this backdrop. These lights were raised above the Guatemalan Naval vessel, which is lodge on the reef over a quarter mile from Glover's Reef. 20 Coast Guard personnel, 2 Port Authority officials and 3 environmentalists have been working tirelessly trying ride the angle of the boat to restrict its movement, minimizing further damage to the reef. They were successful and operation have ceased for tonight, but tomorrow is another day and the overall assessment of the site has just begun."

And day 2 began at 6 am when a Belizean tugboat arrived to try and drag the vessel off.

Again the Nylon - Cotton line was attached to what is known as the bollard of the Guatemalan ship and the operation resumed.

It was a repeat of yesterday, but only this time - the line snapped and the tug boat had to head back to the Port of Big Creek to get another, sturdier line.

And according to the Coast Guard personnel if that doesn't work, the Guatemalans may have to help out by sending a bigger tugboat.

Very grueling but very necessary to ensure the protection of the reef and the safe return of the Guatemalan vessel to Puerto Barrios.

Commander Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant, Coast Guard
"What we did this morning, the officer from the Department of the Environment conducted his dive. He confirmed the best angle for the vessel to be removed and of course causing little damage to the reef and that's the main priority at this stage to ensure that no further damage or as minimum damage is sustain to the reef during this part of the operation. So, that dive was conducted this morning. We discussed with the captain on board and yes this is the best angle for the ship to be removed. Once the vessel is removed and we've conducted our final investigation on the reef system and the vessels are out of sight, then we move back to Belize City."

Coast Guard officers are still out at sea and when we spoke to Coast Guard Commander Bennett this evening he told us that the new tug line was brought from Puerto Barrios at 12 noon. Bennett also said that his team will retry the tugging operation during high tide. Looking at the state of the Guatemalan vessel - two holes are in the hull of the vessel but the water is being pumped out as quickly as it gets in. In terms of the reef - The Department of Environment has not released the results of the onsite assessment as yet but according to the environmentalist on site - so far he sees no damage to the live coral. In terms of what happens next or what happens after the ship is removed and sent off back to Guatemala -it is left up to the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry to discuss cost of damage or compensation after the assessment is finalized. Again Bennett reiterates, based on the investigation so far, this was not an intentional action by the Guatemalans.

The Department of the environment released its initial findings 40 minutes ago. They say, quote, "the area where the naval vessel grounded comprises of 'bear rocks' with minimal damage seen along the vessel's path to the point of grounding and was limited to two coral species, namely Fire Coral and Elkhorn Coral." The release adds that the flat bottomed design of the vessel is the reason for what so far appears to be minimal damage.

But, it doesn't end there. The release adds, quote, "Upon its removal from the reef crest, and as long as the weather permits, the DOE and Fisheries Departments will be conducting the environmental damage assessment to determine the extent of the damage to the Belize Barrier Reef, including any damages that may occur during removal. Once completed, the Environmental Damage Assessment Report will be forwarded to the Ministries of National Security and of Foreign Affairs." End quote.