Coast Guard Removes Long-Grounded Boat from Hawaiian Shores

A boat that had gone aground on the Big Island of Hawaii more than a month ago has finally been removed, according to the Coast Guard.

On Tuesday, Coast Guard contractors stabilized the Midway Island, a 63-ft fishing vessel, which appeared to have some sails rigged up. The vessel was transiting from Los Angeles to Hawaii at the time of the grounding; the Coast Guard said that the cause of the grounding is under investigation.

“We are lucky to have strong partnerships with the industry, State, and the local community,” Chief Warrant Officer Russ Strathern, a marine safety specialist out of Honolulu, said in a press release. “This complex incident involved a lot of coordination, communication, and patience, as we leveraged multiple strategies to mitigate the environmental threat. I am thankful for our response ohana.”

The Coast Guard said that the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources will work with the owner of the Midway Island to conduct a cleanup of the grounding site now that the pollution threat has been removed. “Reportedly, 1,585 gallons of petroleum products, including marine diesel, lube, and hydraulic oil, and oily waste, were safely removed along with the batteries and household cleaners prior to refloating and towing operations began,” the Coast Guard said.