The United States is committed to taking whatever actions are technically possible to salvage a sunken Japanese fisheries training ship, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley said Friday.

"Whatever possible will be done," Foley said, adding that U.S. experts are examining the possibility of salvaging the Ehime Maru, which sank off Hawaii after being struck by the submarine USS Greeneville on Feb. 9.

"But it is also inevitable that it will take some time," he said.