4 Boats Adrift off West Maui Cause Commotion

By Wendy Osher

Crews responded to multiple boating incidents off Maui’s West shore today, the first of which involved a fire aboard a 60-foot trawler.

Boat Fire Aboard Grounded Trawler at Wahikuli 7:27 a.m.

Pacific Maid vessel fire. Courtesy photo: John/Lahaina Photography.

The first report was made at 7:27 a.m. when the Pacific Maid vessel broke from its mooring and drifted into the rocks at Wahikuli State Park in Lahaina.

Engine crews from the Lahaina Fire Station arrived to find the engine compartment of the boat on fire.

The fire was contained to the engine of the Pacific Maid and was extinguished by 10:30 a.m, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

Ladder and tanker crews from the Lahaina Station, along with a Jet Ski and Coast Guard personnel responded to assist.

Pacific Maid vessel fire. Courtesy photo: John/Lahaina Photography.

No one was on board, and the boat was still intact when the incident was turned over to personnel from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  ***More PHOTOS from this incident are available in a previous POST.

Catamaran Loses Power Near Black Rock 9:36 a.m.

A 45-foot catamaran was left resting on the beach near Pu’u Keka’a (Black Rock), secured by an anchor, after it lost power and drifted ashore.

Officials say the Aikane lost power while being moved to Mala Wharf, and drifted ashore this morning near the Sheraton Hotel.

Responding to the scene were personnel from the US Coast Guard, a Jet Ski, and fire crews from Engine 11 out of Napili.

Fishing Boat Beaches on Reef Fronting Canoe’s Restaurant 10:58 a.m.

A30-foot fishing boat came to rest on a reef in waters fronting the Canoe’s Restaurant in Lahaina after breaking loose from its mooring this morning.

When fire and jet ski crews arrived on scene at 11:01 a.m., the Molokai Boy II vessel had settled on the reef at the north end of Front Street. No one was on board at the time of the incident.

FOLLOW-UP: Grounded Sailboat South of Lahaina 2/6/12

A separate grounding of a 29-foot recreational sailing vessel, was reported south of Lahaina Monday on morning.

The Coast Guard’s search for the owner, Randy Perez, was suspended today after he was located safely ashore. Coast Guardsmen in Sector Honolulu were able to contact a friend of the owner, who reported Perez was not in distress.

The Little Lady was found aground south of Lahaina on Monday morning.

A coast guard and marine safety team arried on the scene this morning to assess the condition of the boat.

Pacific Environmental Corporation has been hired to assess and remove any quantity of hazardous material found aboard.