Update: Coast Guard, partners continue word to salvage Pacific Paradise

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle | Capt. Michael Long, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu commanding officer and Captain of the Port for the Port of Honolulu, listens during a brief with federal, state and local representatives at Sector Honolulu, regarding the ongoing removal efforts for the fishing vessel Pacific Paradise, Nov. 8, 2017. Salvage experts from Resolve Marine Group, Global Diving and Salvage, Pacific Environmental Corporation and the Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team from the Marine Safety Center are working to further develop and update the salvage plan. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle/Released)  

HONOLULU , HI, UNITED STATES

11.08.2017

Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir                  

U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU — Work continues Wednesday to address the salvage needs of the Pacific Paradise, aground off Kaimana Beach, Oahu.

The Captain of the Port, Capt. Michael Long, met Wednesday morning with stakeholders to discuss the ongoing environmental concerns associated with the grounded vessel.

In attendance were representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Transportation Harbors Division, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, National Pollution Funds Center and salvage team members. The federal and state agencies are partners in the response efforts and have had input in the process from the beginning when the vessel grounded just before midnight Oct. 10.

The robust salvage team comprised of the contractors and experts from Resolve Marine Group, Global Diving and Salvage, Pacific Environmental Corporation and the Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team continue to revise and update the salvage plan as they survey the vessel and gather further data. The COTP will meet with the responsible party late Wednesday afternoon.

The goal of the response at this point is to prepare the vessel for efforts to refloat and remove it in the safest way possible with the least impact to the environment.

As soon as the vessel is removed from the reef, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources will put expert teams into the water to assess damages to the coral reef and determine appropriate steps for restoration and mitigation.

As previously mentioned in releases and interviews, the site immediately around the vessel and the vessel itself are dangerous as it remains in an active surf zone and the structure of the vessel is compromised. Non-response personnel should stay outside the 500-yard safety zone that remains in effect around the vessel.

• Date Taken: 11.08.2017
• Date Posted: 11.08.2017 18:52
• Story ID: 254720
• Location: HONOLULU , HI, US