A report in the United States military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, suggests a damaged nuclear submarine will sail from Guam to undergo full repairs elsewhere.
US Navy officials say a steel dome has arrived in Guam this week, where the USS San Francisco has been in dry dock since a deadly crash in the Federated States of Micronesia last month.
The dome is said to help the extensively-damaged bows of the submarine to stay afloat and water-tight during transit to another location.
Officials say teams will first attach the dome and repair the ballast tanks, which may take three months.