One Month After Grounding, ‘Pacific Paradise’ Salvage Continues Near Waikiki

Responders continue work to salvage the commercial fishing vessel Pacific Paradise still grounded just off Kaimana Beach on Oahu, Hawaii, Nov. 4, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

Salvage efforts are on-going for the commercial fishing vessel Pacific Paradise nearly a month after the vessel grounded off Kaimana Beach near Waikiki on Oahu.

Over the weekend, the Coast Guard brought on personnel from Resolve Marine Group, Global Diving and Salvage, Pacific Environmental Corporation and the Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team from the Marine Safety Center to survey the vessel and further develop and update the salvage plan.

The vessel originally grounded Oct. 11. The crew was rescued and about two-thirds of the fuel had been removed. Efforts to refloat and remove the vessel continue following several unsuccessful attempts to tow it from its current location.

“Salvage operations are always a dynamic and constantly evolving situation. Experts have been engaged. We now have people from all over the country: East Coast, West Coast, and Alaska, on the island to help overcome this challenging situation,” said Coast Guard Captain of the Port Capt. Michael Long. “We appreciate the continued patience of the public as we work to resolve this incident.”

A safety zone remains in effect around the vessel and non-response personnel are not permitted to board. For safety reasons, swimming and other recreational activities in the immediate vicinity of the Pacific Paradise are “strongly discouraged”, the Coast Guard said. 

The 79-foot Pacific Paradise grounded on October 11 about 1,000 feet off Oahu’s famous Waikiki shoreline. The condition of the vessel has deteriorated ever since and was even accelerated after a fire – sparked by a previous salvage crew – burned through nearly the entire vessel. 

The Pacific Paradise was initially carrying approximately 8,000 gallons of diesel, 55 gallons of lube and hydraulic oils, and four marine batteries, according to the Coast Guard. As of Wednesday, however, about two-thirds of the fuel had been removed, the Coast Guard said.

The Pacific Paradise is a U.S.-flagged vessel and part of the Hawaii longline fleet homeported in Honolulu. Following the grounding, the Captain and 19 fishermen were rescued from the vessel. The fishermen were released to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.