A luxury cruise yacht named “Nakoa” ran aground on the northern side of Honolua Bay, Maui, on February 20th. The Maui Fire Department rescued eight people from the vessel. The Department of Natural Resources(DNLR) reported that they observed diesel leaking from the boat’s hull the following day.
A Coast Guard team is working with the owners of the vessel to salvage and remove it. Due to the ongoing diesel leak, the Coast Guard Federal on-scene coordinator tapped into the National Oil Liability Trust Fund. With access to federal funds, the potential pollution can be mitigated as soon as possible.
Sea Engineering Inc., an organization that specializes in removing oil spills from the ocean, has been contracted to remove pollutants from the water and mitigate any risks to the environment. Sorbent materials were deployed to prevent pollutants from spreading.
Defueling of the vessel began on February 23rd. Given the precarious location below a cliff where the vessel ran aground, the fuel is being lifted by a helicopter in barrels from the yacht.
The Coast Guard has stated that it will coordinate with the State Department of Health Hazard Evaluation, the Emergency Response Office, Sea Engineering Inc., and DNLR to safely remove the vessel.
The Department of Natural Resources stated that over 30 corals and live rocks have been damaged by the yacht and that a significant fine would be imposed on the owner after assessing the exact extent of the damage. DNLR is also investigating the reason behind the grounding, which can lead to more citations and fines.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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