Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

For Immediate News Release January 8, 2020

112 FOOT-LONG FISHING BOAT TO BE AUCTIONED OFF

SOS Minnow Currently Moored at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/383626504

(Honolulu) – The owner of a 112 foot-long, twin-engine, fishing boat has one week to move his vessel before the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) conducts a public auction of the boat.

The SOS Minnow pulled into a slip at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on Nov. 22, 2019, after its owner said he was having a medical emergency.  On Dec. 11, 2019 DOBOR impounded the boat as it was illegally moored. The small boat harbor can only accommodate vessels no longer than 85-feet.

A “notice of disposition of impounded vessel by public auction” legal advertisement was placed in Hawai‘i newspapers this week. It details the process interested bidders need to follow and announces the auction to be held on Jan. 15^th at 9:00 a.m. at the DOBOR Administrative Office at 4 Sand Island Access Road in Honolulu. Auction catalogs with a complete description of the vessel are available at all five small boat harbor offices on O‘ahu. Anyone wanting to inspect the boat prior to auction should contact the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor office. The minimum bid upset price established by DOBOR is $25,000. A successful bidder will have three days after the sale to remove the boat from the harbor.

The boat is described as being in very good condition. If the current owner claims it before the Wednesday auction, he’ll need to pay impound fees, illegal mooring fees, and for the cost of legal ads, estimated to total $1000.00.

# # #

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
[email protected]