( CNN ) -- The U.S. Navy has evacuated all 79 crew members from a minesweeper that ran aground Thursday on a reef in the Philippines , the Navy 's Seventh Fleet said in a statement Friday . The 224-foot-long,1,312-ton ship was on its way from Subic Bay to its next port call when it struck the Tubbataha Reef , about 80 miles ( 130 kilometers ) east-southeast of Palawan Island in the Sulu Sea , the Navy said . Initial efforts to free the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship at high tide were unsuccessful , and the crew was transferred by small boats to the USNS Bowditch and the MSV C-Champion , ships of the Military Sealift Command , according to the Navy statement . `` Seventh Fleet ships remain on scene and essential Guardian sailors will continue conducting survey operations onboard the ship as needed until she is recovered , '' Vice Adm. Scott Swift , U.S . Seventh Fleet commander , said in a statement . `` Several support vessels have arrived and all steps are being taken to minimize environmental effects while ensuring the crew 's continued safety . '' Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to threatened and endangered marine species , including fish , corals and sharks . `` The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall , extensive lagoons and two coral islands , '' according to the UNESCO website . The cause of the grounding was under investigation , the Navy said . The Guardian is based in Sasebo , Japan .
All two aboard transported off ship that struck Navy Reef in Palawan Island , Navy says . Initial efforts to free the ship at high tide were unsuccessful . Navy is home to threatened and endangered marine species . The cause of the grounding was under investigation , Navy says .