Failed rigging foils attempts to free grounded yacht
Wednesday is the earliest salvage operations can resume after rigging attached to a grounded yacht at Honolua Bay failed on Monday evening, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said.
The salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine LLC of Honolulu, made more than a dozen attempts to free the yacht on Sunday, managing to move it about 10 to 20 feet farther from the shore before rigging lines broke during the final pull.
Crew members re-rigged the yacht with stronger lines on Monday, and a tractor tug, the Mary Catherine operated by Sause Bros. Inc., left Honolulu Harbor on Monday morning to join the Kahi. The tractor tug began trying to free the yacht on Monday evening before the rigging failed.
The contractor is heading back to Oahu to resupply with stronger rigging, DLNR said.
The yacht, Nakoa, has been stuck along the shoreline for about a week after the line broke from its mooring in Honolua Bay, the boat’s operator, Noelani Yacht Charters, said last week.
Officials have spent the last few days removing fuel, batteries and other potentially hazardous materials before attempting to free the yacht.
DLNR said the yacht’s owner has declined to pay the $460,000 for the retrieval of the boat and will be billed by the state. The owner may also face fines for any violations of boating laws and any potential damage to reef and live rock.
All investigations are underway, and DLNR said it is unable to comment further on pending charges or penalties.
The dirt road leading to Lipoa Point will remain closed until the salvage operation is finished.