Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release March 31, 2014 

GROUNDED BOAT NEAR HANAPEPE TO BE REMOVED

LIHUE — A salvage removal plan is being prepared for a 55-foot by 20 foot shrimping trimaran, the “Kanoa”, which went aground Sunday afternoon at Shark’s Bay on the west side of Hanapepe.

According to the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Kauai office, the Coast Guard registered vessel was anchored in Hanapepe bay for the weekend, waiting to refuel on Monday. Crew members had come ashore.

The vessel’s anchor watch (a person that stays onboard to ensure the vessel does not drag anchor), was not onboard when the anchor line either broke or slipped, causing the vacant boat to wash ashore and end up on the rocks.

At around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, police officers and firefighters responded to a report of a boat on the reef. The Coast Guard and DLNR were notified of the incident.

No action was initially taken because the vessel was not hard aground. It was able to remove itself from the rocks as high tide was approaching. The vessel was in good shape and could have been removed from the rocks. However, due to lack of any action from its captain and crew, the vessel remained on the rocks.

State boating officials determined that the center pontoon hull has been compromised, but the owner has insurance and is in contact with JR Construction to salvage the vessel. Tentative plan is to bring in a crane onto nearby state land and remove heavy equipment, followed by removal and disposal of the vessel.

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Deborah Ward
Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320