HONOLUA BAY, Maui — The state is still working to free a 120-ton super yacht from the corals and reefs of Honolua Bay in northwest Maui, more than a week after its owner accidentally landed the vessel on the shoreline.
On Feb. 20, Jim Jones, who owns Noelani Yacht Charters, grounded the Nakoa just beyond the boundary of the Honolua-Mokule‘ia Marine Life Conservation District in a blunder that has quickly made him infamous throughout the state.
In a Feb. 27 press release, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources stated that its hired contractor, Visionary Marine LLC, made more than a dozen attempts on Feb. 26 to pull the yacht off the shoreline using its salvage ship, the Kahi.
After rigging the Nakoa with various ropes and straps, the Kahi was only able to move the yacht about 10 to 20 feet before the “rigging lines on the Nakoa broke during the final pull.” At the time of the release on Feb. 27, the salvage crew had returned to continue their efforts, and was re-rigging the vessel with a stronger set of lines.
The DLNR also stated that a tractor tug, the Mary Catherine, operated by Sause Bros. Inc., was en route to Maui from Honolulu to provide additional assistance.
“Once on scene, it will join the Kahi in further attempts to pull the grounded yacht into deeper water,” the department said.
The DLNR estimated the yacht would need to be pulled another 20 to 30 feet before being freed.
The press release, which was issued close to 2 p.m., added that the salvage teams would wait until “higher tide conditions later today, before making additional attempts.”
The yacht has been de-fueled since Feb. 25, when all fuel and other hazardous materials were removed from the vessel. An unspecified amount of diesel fuel had leaked from the boat’s hull into the surrounding water, according to an earlier press release.
The DLNR said it had to take control of the yacht late last week, after Jones told the department he was unable to pay for the removal of his vessel.
“Since the yacht’s owner declined to pay for the $460,000 for retrieval of his boat, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, by law, assumed control over the vessel, and will bill him.”
Jones also faces additional fines for “any violations of boating rules and regulations and for any potential damage to reef structures and live rock,” as well as additional staff and administration costs.
“All investigations are underway, and DLNR can’t comment further on pending charges or penalties.”
Jones had previously told The Garden Island that negative press was “blowing (him) away,” and that he was committed to resolving the issue and restoring the reef area.
“I live here. We’re local. It’s all about our land and our waters,” said Jones in a Feb. 22 phone interview.
“We definitely will be in contact with Maui specifically, all the environmental organizations, doing whatever we possibly can on our part to help them out,” he added.
Jones was unable to be reached for comment on reports that he was now unwilling to pay for the damage.
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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached at 808-652-0638 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.
