HONOLULU (KHON2) — Department of Land and Natural Resources officials have begun removing over two thousand gallons of fuel from a ferry boat that ran aground off the coast of Lahaina.
The popular dinner cruise, Maui Princess, has been stuck in shallow water since it initially ran aground last Thursday due to a reported part failure.
Since it initially ran aground, the vessel has been pushed further towards the shore. Officials plan to move the 100-foot vessel back into deeper water once the fuel, batteries, hazardous materials, and other items have been removed.
Willoughby Consulting and Adjusting will lead the fuel removal effort and said it will take nine or 10 helicopter trips to remove the fuel.
“Compared to some other groundings I’ve been involved with, while in the U.S. Coast Guard, and while owning my own company, this one is relatively easy,” said David Willoughby of Willoughby Consulting and Adjusting.
According to the DLNR, the boat is “hard-aground on what appears to be a shallow shelf of sand and rubble.”
The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources is assisting with the removal operations to help minimize any impacts on substrate and other living corals in the area.
As of now, aquatic biologists are unable to assess any damage to marine habitats due to high surf conditions.