Coast Guard Rescues Grounded Vessel Near Maui Cave

By Wendy Osher

One of the outboard engines from the 30-foot tour boat Kanaloa, suffered damage after coming in contact with some rocks in La Persouse Bay, Maui, July 10, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Pope

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBYCMwP9Usw /]  Twenty-five passengers aboard a tour boat on Maui were rescued Sunday near La Perouse Bay.  The 30-foot vessel was pushed up against the rocky coastline by waves when the crew attempted to back the boat into a cave.

The Kanaloa vessel sustained damage to the front right side of the boat, and one of the engines on the rear.  The boat was safely towed back to the Kihei Boat Ramp with no pollution or injuries reported.

The Coast Guard from Station Maui assisted in the rescue.  They were responding to an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon signal from the boat that was emitted at 8:26 a.m.

The Coast Guard arrived on the scene at 9:29 a.m.  Five passengers were transferred to the company’s sister ship, the Pineapple Express;  and the remaining 18 passengers were transferred to a Coast Guard vessel.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Leonard Gladu, a machinery technician from Station Maui, poses for a photo with some of the passengers of the damaged 30-foot tour boat Kanaloa in the vicinity of La Persouse Bay, Maui, July 10, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Pope

Two crew members were transferred to a 30-foot fishing vessel operated by the company owner, who arrived to render assistance.  The vessel was used to tow the damaged tour boat back to the shore.

“This is a good example of why EPIRBs are essential to mariners,” said Andrew J. Statham, a boatswain’s mate from Station Maui. “Having this aboard significantly increased the Coast Guard’s response time and allowed us to get to them and render assistance quickly.”