UPDATE: PWF Boat Stuck on Lāhainā Harbor Reef

PWF’s Ocean Discovery. Photo by Kevin Olson.

By Maui Now Staff

At 3:35 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 2, fire dispatchers received a call for a vessel “hung up” on a buoy near the Lāhainā  Harbor channel entrance. Lāhainā firefighters and an Ocean Safety rescue ski arrived and found a Pacific Whale Foundation vessel grounded on the north side of the harbor channel. Passengers that were onboard at the time, had already been off-loaded when firefighters arrived. Fire and Ocean Safety crews aided the vessel’s crew with securing anchor lines to prevent the vessel from further drifting to shore.

Brisk Kona winds were pushing the vessel towards shore.

The 65-foot-long Ocean Discovery was still grounded when fire and ocean safety crews left the scene. It’s unknown how much fuel is onboard. There were no reports of fuel leaking and no injuries were reported. The vessel operator is coordinating with representatives from the state Harbor’s Division and the US Coast Guard regarding salvage operations. Both agencies are on scene monitoring the situation.

Ocean Discovery. Photo by Kevin Olson.

Ocean Discovery. Photo by Kevin Olson.

Ocean Discovery. Photo by Kevin Olson.