Tour Boat Overwhelmed by 12-Foot Waves
A tour boat grounding near Honolulu Harbor drew a significant emergency response on Saturday after the 75-foot vessel Discovery was battered by high surf.
At around 8:00 AM, the Discovery was attempting to enter Kewalo Basin, located roughly 1,500 yards southeast of the main entrance to Honolulu Harbor. Conditions were hazardous, with a high surf advisory warning of wave heights between 10 and 12 feet. Authorities reported that more than 300 rescues were conducted throughout the day by Honolulu Ocean Safety due to dangerous waters.
The vessel, carrying only two crew members and no passengers, attempted to navigate the narrow harbor channel. A large wave struck, pushing the boat forward and tilting it sharply. Thanks to its sturdy design, the vessel avoided capsizing but soon suffered a propulsion failure.
Grounding, Salvage Operations, and Investigation
By 8:25 AM, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received reports that the Discovery had run aground on a reef just outside the harbor entrance. USCG response boats struggled to reach the vessel because of shallow water and rough surf, but Ocean Safety jet ski teams reached the crew and confirmed they were uninjured.
Later that evening, Cates Marine dispatched a tugboat at around 6:25 PM to free the grounded vessel. The operation faced setbacks when deck cleats failed during towing attempts. The vessel later drifted against a seawall near Kewalo Basin’s entrance.
By 11:00 PM, salvage crews removed all accessible diesel fuel and batteries, preventing pollution incidents. State officials are overseeing ongoing salvage efforts, while the Coast Guard investigates the cause of the grounding.
Cmdr. Daniel Brahan of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu stressed that removing large vessels requires “careful planning” and urged both mariners and beachgoers to keep their distance from the salvage site.
