yacht sinks in maui

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Grounded yacht at Honolua finally freed but later sinks offshore

Luxury yacht, the Nakoa, was finally removed Sunday by rigging crews after it was grounded on the rocks and reefs for nearly two weeks at Honolua Bay. It later sank in 800 feet of water. DLNR photo

The Maui News 

A luxury yacht that had been grounded for nearly two weeks at Honolua Bay was finally freed Sunday afternoon after a rigging crew worked over the weekend to remove the boat, but the 94-foot-long boat later sank offshore. 

Just outside the Honolua-Mokuleia Marine Life Conservation District, the salvage ship Kahi, which is operated by Visionary Marine LLC, and a tractor tug called the Mary Catherine, operated by Sause Brothers Inc. of Honolulu, pulled the Nakoa off nearshore rocks and reefs during high tide. 

However, during towing, the yacht was scuttled in 800 feet of water, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation reported a few hours later. 

It had taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high after being pulled free by the tractor tug early Sunday afternoon, the DLNR said. 

A rigging crew worked all day Saturday and again Sunday morning securing the rigging to the Nakoa.

Prior to the 3,300-horsepower tug hooking up, the salvage crew used a carbon cutter to free either the yacht’s prop or rudder, believed to be the reason earlier attempts did not succeed, according to a news release. 

Sunday provided the best weather and ocean conditions for the complex operation to free the Nakoa, the DLNR said. 

DLNR Chair Dawn Chang watched the salvage operation with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. and Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin, who holds the West Maui residency seat.

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Maui Yacht Owner: ‘I Didn’t Know What I Was Getting Into’

Jim Jones says he wants to make things right, but former employees and Maui residents say he shouldn't have a boat.

Jim Jones says he wants to make things right, but former employees and Maui residents say he shouldn’t have a boat.

The owner of a luxury yacht that ran aground last month in Honolua Bay is trying to salvage his reputation as efforts continue this week to remove his 94-foot Sunseeker from a delicate reef off Maui.

“We are taking full responsibility for this,” Noelani Yacht Charters owner Jim Jones said Thursday. “We’re not running.”

That assurance may not be enough to persuade Maui politicians, community advocates and local mariners who say he shouldn’t stay in business at all. Several of his former workers have said he repeatedly ignored state boating regulations and skirted recommended safety practices, to the point where multiple people who worked with Jones said they quit because of risky behavior.

“He shouldn’t be allowed to have a boat,” a former worker said, speaking on the condition of anonymity .

Jones said he started out with a dream to buy a boat. A woodworker by trade, he began looking for one a few years ago around Honolulu and first set his eyes on a 65-footer — a “big monster boat.”

But his friend, a boat captain, cautioned him against getting one so big for his first vessel. Plus, harbors to store boats of that size are scarce in Hawaii. Where would he put it?

So Jones kept looking until 2020, when he settled on what he thought was the perfect opportunity: a 74-foot yacht that came with its own slip in Kewalo Basin Harbor. It had been used for charters in the past, and by renting it out in the future, Jones hoped it would pay for itself. The owner agreed to let him pay it off over time, sealing the deal.

In the height of the pandemic, Jones began pouring his resources into marketing and establishing a “luxury yacht image,” equipped with private chefs, bartenders and local musicians. 

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I just figured it was something to pay the bills,” Jones said. “And then once this thing took off, we’re going, ‘Holy shit.’”

Now Jones is trying to assure government officials and the community that he will cover the cost of a nearly $500,000 salvage job .

On Feb. 20, Jones said he was on a family outing, spending the weekend in Honolua Bay, when his mooring line failed while attached to a mooring that’s only allowed to be used for two hours at a time.

The Nakoa, a 94-foot yacht that Jones said he brought to Hawaii in December, ended up drifting onto the reef. By the next day, the hull had been punctured, and diesel fuel spilled into the water leading into one of Maui’s most beloved marine sanctuaries . 

In the days that followed, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources announced that it was putting up $460,000 to try to haul the 120-ton yacht away. But after unsuccessful attempts and delays because of stormy weather, the yacht remained on Thursday evening.

DLNR officials said earlier this week that the salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine, will return to Maui on Friday or Saturday. 

“We’ve been talking to the DLNR to let them know we’re not leaving them with the bill,” Jones said.

Jones said he was working with his insurance company to cover the cost. Asked to provide a copy of his coverage, he declined, citing the current investigation into the incident. He said he didn’t know the specifics of his insurance policy or how much it covered. 

“I feel his actions were extremely irresponsible,” said Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin, who has long fought to protect Honolua Bay. “I don’t think he fully understands how special a place Honolua is to so many of us and just how much aggravation he has caused our community.” 

As Jones works with attorneys, insurance agents and the state, he said he’s also determined to make amends with the Maui community and work to restore his company’s reputation. Since the incident in Honolua, he said he’s continued to run charters on his Oahu-based yacht, the Noelani, which will help him pay the debts he owes. 

But the Noelani has its own history of problems. The boat caught fire in Kewalo Basin Harbor in October, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.

Asked about the incident, Jones said the fire broke out in a guest suite, just as he was flying out of state to purchase the Nakoa. He blamed the fire on incandescent light bulbs that are common in older boats. Fortunately, he said, the Honolulu Fire Department responded and contained the fire from spreading out of the room. 

“When I first got a boat, my friends were telling me, ‘No, don’t get a boat; it’s nonstop problems,’” Jones said. “There’s constantly stuff going on.”

But mariners interviewed by Civil Beat say fires aren’t one of the nonstop problems boat owners regularly face.

“I can’t think of a reported fire incident in Maalaea Harbor in the 40 years I’ve been here,” said Michael Wildberger, a captain on Maui who’s run thousands of snorkel tours.

Catering To The Jet Set

After buying his first yacht in 2020, Jones said he quickly realized that catering to the ultra-wealthy in search of day trips on megayachts was an untapped market in Hawaii. High-end hotels were looking for luxury activities to send their clients on, Jones said.

In his marketing strategy, he made it clear: Noelani Yacht Charters wasn’t a basic fishing or snorkeling charter. His website advertises trips on Maui starting at $9,800 . 

“We cater to these guys that are flying in on their private jets,” Jones said. 

For almost two years, Jones grew his business with the Noelani, until he found an investor willing to help him acquire the Nakoa, the vessel that ran aground last month.

At first, Jones said he thought the investor would pay the transportation costs to have the Nakoa sent to Hawaii from overseas. When the investor suddenly said he wouldn’t cover that cost, Jones said he put up the money for the transport, which meant he missed out on paying almost $290,000 for the final payment he owed for the Noelani.

He was later sued for not making that payment, as well as failing to pay back $100,000 he borrowed from another person to pay for the Noelani.

Jones downplayed the lawsuits, calling them mutual agreements and “just records of the payment plans that we’ve created.”

With the Nakoa, Jones dreamed of expanding his business to allow multinight charters to Maui, where he planned to whisk clients away to snorkel trips around Molokini or head over to Hulopoe Bay on Lanai. He said he discovered Honolua Bay during trips on the Noelani, describing it as a place he couldn’t believe he could visit with a yacht of that size. 

Jones said he took his family to Honolua for a holiday weekend last month, and tied up at the mooring that’s only supposed to be used for two hours at a time. Asked if he was aware of the rule, Jones said was never informed of it by the Coast Guard or DLNR but had been “getting flak from day one” from Maui tour companies in the bay. 

“When you have the same company coming in, they’re switching boats every two hours,” he said. “What’s the difference of that versus us just staying there?”

It’s not the only law that community members have complained about Noelani Yacht Charters allegedly violating.

A month before the Nakoa ran aground, Tina Wildberger, South Maui’s former state lawmaker, wrote to DLNR about a dinghy shuttling passengers between the yacht and Kihei Boat Ramp, which she said isn’t allowed without a permit.

“There’s some serious high end pirate action happening here with these yachts,” Wildberger said in her January email to DLNR. “Does this vessel have a special permit to pick up passengers at Kihei Boat Ramp today?”

The next day, Wildberger got her answer: The boat didn’t have a special permit. 

Jones said he often stopped at Kihei Boat Ramp to make crew runs, including going to Ace Hardware. He denied picking up passengers though. He said that he doesn’t have a commercial permit for the Nakoa, but that he operates his business in a way that allows him to get around that. 

“That’s a whole other gray area,” Jones said.

His first boat, the Noelani, has a commercial permit. But Jones said he ran the Nakoa with a workaround called “bareboat charters.” That means that he rents the boat out to people without providing any crew. Instead, he can suggest when they rent the boat that the clients hire the crew that he’s vetted ahead of time. It’s a business model that’s popular among yacht rental businesses.

For now, Jones said he’ll keep running tours on the Noelani out of Oahu while charting his next steps. He’s hoping to find a replacement for the Nakoa and continue his expansion to Maui — if residents will have him.

“I’m hoping that we can meet everybody personally, to apologize to them face to face — let them know that and show them that I am local,” Jones said. “I think once we talk, they’ll realize I’m just like them.”

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.

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Luxury yacht finally freed from Maui near-shore reef only to sink in 800 feet of water

Nearly two weeks after a 120-ton, 94-foot luxury yacht grounded in Honolua Bay on Maui, a salvage ship and a tugboat from Honolulu finally freed the vessel named Nakoa from the rocky shoreline.

But there is no happy ending for the yacht.

It is now at the bottom of the ocean, about 800 feet deep.

The multimillion-dollar yacht had suffered severe holes in the hull during the days it was grounded, with the rough surf pounding it repeatedly against the rocks of the shoreline.

“It had taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high after being pulled free by a tractor tug early this afternoon,” according to the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

The yacht sank.

It was the end to an ordeal that began nearly two weeks ago when the yacht grounded just outside the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District. Although the area has day-use moorings with a time limit of two hours, yacht owner Jim Jones told media that he didn’t know the rules  and stayed overnight with his family when one of the lines snapped and the boat hit the rocks.

It has been quite the ordeal to salvage the boat.

Once the boat stated leaking fuel, the U.S. Coast Guard federalized the vessel, meaning it has jurisdiction over the yacht which cannot be moved until all hazardous material was removed .

When that process was done the state Department of Land and Natural Resources took over because Jones said he did not have the money to pay for the salvage operation. The state organized and is paying for the operation, but will be sending Jones a bill, which initially was for $460,000 plus. But that will be sure to go up due to all the problems encountered during the salvage.

Once the hazardous material was removed, Visonary Marines’s salvage ship Kahi from Honolulu tried to removed the yacht from the reef but failed after multiple pulls. Sause Brothers’ tractor tug Mary Catherine was called in from Honolulu to help, but the second attempt with both boats also failed. Then bad weather forced both salvage boats to return to Honolulu.

They returned to Maui on Saturday.

A crew from the salvage ship rigged lines to the yacht Nakoa   all day Saturday and Sunday morning to prepare for the third attempt.

Prior to the 3,300-horsepower tug hooking up, the salvage crew used a carbon cutter to free either the yacht’s prop or rudder, believed to be the reason earlier attempts did not succeed, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

On Sunday, there were ideal weather and ocean conditions for the complex and costly operation. Once the tug turned the boat 90 degrees it pulled out into deeper water. 

“The yacht was listing to one side and riding bow high and it’s unknown at this time whether it was successfully pulled all the way to Honolulu or had to be scuttled in 1,000-foot-deep water offshore,” the Department and Land and Natural Resources said.

Department Chair Dawn Chang watched the salvage operation on Sunday with Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin. Chang said she heard almost immediately from Randy Cates, the owner and operator of Visionary Marine. 

“I’m beyond words,” Chang said. “I extended our appreciation to him and his crew for doing a tough, thankless job when others in the industry were questioning the wisdom of taking it on. We all thought today was it. It was either going to happen or not. I’m extremely pleased.” 

Chang said the state will aggressively pursue recouping all salvage costs from the owner, which originally were set at $460,000 plus before delays and the need for a second boat were included in the cost.

It also does not include the cost to repair damage to coral reefs and live rock. A team from the state Division of Aquatic Resources will return to the grounding location this week to conduct a post-incident damage assessment. 

To read more about yacht tales in Hawai’i waters involving a pop star, Russian oligarch, coral wrecker and thief, click here .

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Maui officials: Luxury yacht that ran aground near marine sanctuary leaked fuel into bay

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Maui officials confirmed the luxury yacht grounded near a marine sanctuary leaked fuel into the bay.

The 94-foot vessel got stuck on the reef on Monday at Honolua Bay. The extent of the leak is unknown at this time, and it’s prompting calls for action.

“The whole community is kind of little disturbed ... it’s just kind of shocking ... from an environmental aspect,” said West Maui resident Darren McDaniel. “So many people that have given so much of their heart and soul into taking care of this place, makes me teary eyed.”

On Tuesday, a sheen of diesel fuel was visible in waters surrounding the boat and people nearby complained of the stench of fuel in the air.

“People are angry. People are pissed. That’s for sure,” said Napili resident Mike Jucker. “It is very sad.”

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and a private contractor are trying to dislodge the 94-foot Nakoa and prevent any more pollution.

“Honolua Bay is in our Marine Life Conservation District. It’s got a wealth of marine life. It’s important environmentally, ecologically, culturally. And of course, also from ocean user point of view, it has a high recreation value. This is one of the most popular waves on Maui,” said Lauren Blickley, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Regional Manager.

DLNR officials said the yacht can’t be moved until all fuel, batteries, and any other pollutants on board are removed. That process may involve a helicopter and is expected to take at least through Wednesday.

“What I understand, there’s no boom, which is used to contain an oil spill, or fuel spill. There’s no boom readily available on Maui. So, it’s having to be flown or shipped in from Oahu,” said DLNR Senior Communications Manager Dan Dennison. “That may take a little while.”

DLNR officials said it will likely be a few more days before the vessel is freed from the rocks and reef.

“Once the fuel and other potential hazards are removed, the USCG will release the vessel back to the owner. At that time, he will need to provide the DLNR an acceptable salvage plan for the vessel’s removal,” Dennison said.

DLNR said it’s investigating what led to the Nakoa grounding and citations and fines could be levied based on the findings of that investigation.

“This morning, a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) did an initial underwater assessment of potential damage to coral reefs and live rock. Divers noted an estimated 30 coral and live rock were damaged but will need to return to do a more thorough assessment once the vessel is removed. Based on those findings, the boat’s owner could face significant penalties as determined by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources. Corals and live rock (other non-coral reef organisms) are protected by State law,” said Dennison.

DLNR said active leaks have stopped because one of the owner’s friends managed to board the yacht and shut off all the pumps.

The Coast Guard said the Federal On-scene Coordinator opened the National Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund “federalizing efforts to mitigate potential pollution to the environment.”

Maui County issued an emergency permit allowing special equipment to remove the yacht to prevent further damage to the reef and the ecosystem.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. issued a statement on the incident:

“I spoke with Governor Green today and shared the concerns our community has on what has happened at Honolua Bay and the need to expedite response efforts to protect the marine sanctuary and remove the grounded vessel. I share those concerns as well. I also received an update from DLNR director Dawn Chang that outlined the department’s actions and next steps requiring the involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard. I’ve conveyed that this is a serious matter and appreciate the attention of the Governor and his administration to address the situation. I understand that this is under the jurisdiction of State and Federal agencies and I’ve been assured that their efforts are being done urgently. I’ve assigned senior staff to carefully monitor the situation and offer support when appropriate.”

The owner of a luxury yacht has apologized.

Jim Jones, the owner of Noelani Yacht Charters, told Hawaii News Now he was anchored offshore with his family for the past two days, and then something went wrong at around 5:45 a.m. Monday.

“While we’re underneath the boat during our pre-check, the mooring line broke,” said Jones.

“As we come out of the boat, it was too late.”

Jones said he’s sorry for running aground at Honolua Bay and added that no negligence was involved.

“It was a freak accident and worst timing ever,” said Jones. “We couldn’t have done anything about this, and we’re doing everything we possibly can to try to get off of here.”

The 94-foot boat called The Nakoa is stuck in a prime surf spot and near a marine sanctuary where Honolua Coalition has been opposing developments and protecting the bay for nearly 15 years.

“It is a terrible optic, it’s just something you just would dream of never seeing, and it happened today,” said John Carty of Honolua Coalition.

”We’re hoping for the best that the damage can be minimized.”

The nonprofit Malama Kai Foundation said the public is allowed to use Day-use Moorings Buoys on a first-come, first serve basis with a two-and-a-half hour time limit.

Jones said he wasn’t warned of the rules and stayed there for two days.

“There’s nobody that contacted us ever about, ‘hey, you can’t be in this bay, you can’t hook up to an anchor here,’” said Jones. “And so, if somebody would have said that, we would have got out of here.”

Maui Community Advocate Tiare Lawrence is asking for the State to step up.

“Really push forward and passing sensible legislation to protect these places and to enforce,” said Lawrence. “There’s a lack of enforcement, we hear it all the time, and they really need to step up.”

Jones said they’re hoping to be out by 4 a.m. on Tuesday when it’s supposed to be high tide. The company will have to pay for the removal costs.

Maui County issued the following statement:

“In response to the increasing risk of damage to the reef and ecosystem at Honolua Bay, a marine sanctuary in West Maui, the County of Maui exercised its ability to issue an emergency Special Management Area permit that would allow equipment to access the site via the shoreline and assist in dislodging the vessel from the reef it is resting on and enable it to reach deeper water to exit the area. The emergency permit, authorized by Acting Planning Director Kathleen Ross Aoki was issued late this afternoon following discussions with West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin and the excavation company. This action comes after attempts during an afternoon high tide failed. The State must still issue a corresponding permit for the work that also involves DLNR jurisdiction beginning at the high water mark and into the ocean. We are pleased to be able to rapidly respond to a situation in dire need. The longer the vessel remains in the sensitive area the higher the risk of damage.”

Despite an offer from a private excavation company and an emergency permit provided by Maui County, the land department said it does not currently plan to issue a permit allowing an excavator to try and push the boat out from land.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Copyright 2023 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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After  Nakoa  went aground in early February about 700 feet outside the Honolua-Mokulēʻia Bay Marine Life Conservation District, around 470 gallons of petroleum products and 14 marine batteries were recovered from the yacht, “with helicopters transporting 55-gallon drums of fuel from the boat to a staging area where it could be disposed of,” according to Boat International .

But there was clearly spillage in the wake of Nakoa’s grounding, as seen in photos. The DLNR found damage to around 30 coral heads and live rock. The Nakoa was one of two luxury yachts owned by Noelani Yacht Charters, according to Hawaii Public Radio. The DNLR said that the owner could face “hefty penalties because coral in this area is protected by State Law.”

Clearly, there is some work to be done by lawyers and bureaucrats.

The Nakoa’s grounding raised the ire and righteous indignation of people in the boating world. Check out Letters  in the April issue of  Latitude 38 to hear from Latitude Nation , including one marine salvager in Hawaii who described the perils of the industry.

“A tremendous amount of respect is owed to all those that chose to stick their neck out rendering assistance to the Nakoa yacht. I have seen how all too often marine salvage ends up being a thankless job in which one has to drop everything else at a moment’s notice while taking on massive liabilities doing work that is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting,” said David Demarest, the manager of Giraffe Maui Marine Salvage & Supply, LLC.

“There are ways to skillfully minimize the high risk of personal injury, death, or substantial environmental harm while conducting a marine salvage operation, but as things currently are, all the substantial time and money, along with wear and tear on gear, oftentimes end up being put out in good faith only to have an owner and/or their insurance company refusing to appreciate, let alone pay for, services rendered in a timely manner.”

14 Comments

If only they had a can of Flex Seal!

Amateur recovery from start to finish! Ask any salver in Alaska and they will say the operation from start to finish was poorly planned, horribly activated and the end result was predictable weeks ago . Now it’s cleanup time and perhaps a thought to how this could have been avoided !

I greatly appreciate Tim’s coverage of this important issue, and I respect Ken’s deep frustration at how the salvage effort turned out. Despite not being involved in the salvage, it still weighs on me to have personally assessed the scene on the evening of Day 1 and on Day 2 only to strongly believe there was no way I could offer to help without becoming enmeshed in a massive lose-lose situation and likely years of litigation. I don’t personally know enough critical facts as they were known throughout the process to fairly judge the salvage effort of the Nakoa grounding at Honolua Bay, especially given the tendency of hindsight being 20/20. But with that said, what I do know is timely action by salvors on Maui is all too often actively punished by vessel owners and/or their insurance companies implementing what amounts to a “Deny, Delay, Defend” strategy to avoid timely payment of clear liabilities. The ongoing case Demarest v. Alfouadi, Hawai’i District Court Case Number 1:22-cv-00064 involves an environmental salvage and wreck removal my team conducted over a year ago for a State Farm insured vessel in which a claim was not even opened until well after the filing of the case… I find it untenable some vessel owners and their insurance companies choose to squander the most critical time of a marine incident attempting to negotiate down their liabilities instead of working towards what is truly everyone’s best interest.

Ken, What went wrong in your opinion. Could the boat have been saved if approached differently.

See above. Put wrong website.

It definitely is a roll of the dice ,and the larger the value the more tenacious an insurance company can be .it’s been 17 years since I lost my cal -29 and the circumstances were for more tragic . But Parker salvage and my insurance company couldn’t have worked together more smoothly . It certainly helped to have an adjuster who was a fellow sailor.

A salvage operation in Hawaii is complicated by the lack of resources on neighboring islands to deal with larger vessels. Oahu does, but the trip takes hours and the conditions can be difficult at times. Time is of the essence for grounded vessels and one thing can be done within the first day to minimize damage. Basic seamanship says to set anchors to windward to keep the vessel from moving to shore and shallower water. A vessel this size should have had at least two sets of anchors, chains and rope, and a dinghy to accomplish this basic task. Knowing the Island people. no doubt there are people that came to the aid and would likely assist. If that was done perhaps the salvors the next day would be only faced with patching and pumping flooded compartments or using airbags or similar devices to float the vessel off the rocks.

In the case of Nahoa, in his own words, the owner said he had no idea of what he was getting into, that sure sounded like he had virtually no experience and this situation was more than he could handle. Some people learn the hard way

The State will no doubt pay for another expensive Salvage and Wreck Removal as the owner did not put work in hand. If rumors are true, he violated a policy warranty that the vessel had to be operated by a licensed captain. One thing I learned in my role as a marine insurance broker, make the first salvage effort the best you have as the vessel dies with every tide cycle. After the first failed effort the salvage became a wreck removal and scuttling at sea was the only option.

I followed this from the beginning. I think at that time it was made clear that there were no resource available on the island or any where near to handle this sort of thing.

I am a retired Commercial Marine Insurance of some 40 years (30 years in Hawaii) and participated in more vessel sinkings and grounding than I can remember. The first rule of law at the time of the casualty is to ‘act as a prudent self-insured (remember the Insurers do not put work in hand). Hire an experienced Marine surveyor and they will know the best salvors, who will be hired under your name and proceed to mount their best effort knowing that time is of the essence. At the same time contact your insurers, they will either accept your choice of surveyor or hire their own. In a large casualty, you can expect daily briefings involving the owner, surveyor(s), Harbors, Fish & Game, and the Coast Guard. This detail might not apply to yachts but the same principles apply to the responsibility of the owners to respond. Not to toot my own horn, but by placing the vessel insurance through a local Marine Insurance broker, who can use his resources and give advice, a lot of the mistakes made can be eliminated.

I would think they would have had pumps that could have kept it afloat. Some inflatable pontoons? I’m definitely not an expert but play one on the intrawebs

With the wreck so close to the beach and aground over much of the hull, there was likely no way to patch it sufficiently for it to withstand a tow supported by float bags and pumps. If Nakoa was a steel hull she would have likely survived two weeks but being fiberglass, it was likely a constructive total loss (cost to repair the vessel more than the insured value) at its place on the beach. I think the tow ended as planned with the State who has paid the bill so far, happy to see the vessel off its shores.

The boat owner violated every rule in the book, from mooring overnight at a 2 hour day use only mooring; failing to anchor; failing to have a licensed captain on board; failing to know and/or implement proper protocol once the event occurred; and probably more. He has already thumbed his nose at the notion that he will step up to his financial responsibility. Is it even known if he has insurance? If so, what is the likelihood it will even approach the financial consequences of his reckless conduct? Can criminal charges be brought? Can he be precluded from ever owning another boat? This is outrageous!

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$117k fine issued following grounding of 28m Sunseeker Nakoa

The Hawaiian Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has tentatively approved a $117,472 fine against the trust that was involved in the grounding of Sunseeker Nakoa on Maui in February 2023.

The 28-metre Nakoa had broken free from its mooring in the protected Honolua-Mokulēʻia Bay Marine Life Conservation District and ended up grounded on the shoreline, causing damage to more than 100 coral colonies and over 1,500 square metres of live rock on Maui’s west coast.

The fine includes $26,700 for damaging stony coral, $33,520 for damaging live rock, $56,851 for the cost of the investigation, and $400 for violations.

The settlement was agreed by Kevin and Kimberly Albert, trustees of the Albert Revocable Trust, but the board is currently deliberating on a penalty for the operator of the yacht, Jim Jones, and his luxury yacht charter service Noelani Yacht Charters.

In 2022, Jones entered a 15-year purchase agreement with Kevin and The Albert Revocable Trust for a sum of $1.45 million. However, during the salvage operation on 5 March, the Sunseeker sank to a depth of around 300 metres while under tow.

Following the incident, Kevin and Kimberly Albert filed a lawsuit in US District Court against Jones, Noelani Charter Yachts, and the captain seeking $1.45 million for the loss of the yacht, $500,000 for salvage work, and $500,000 for environmental damages. The lawsuit accused Jones of using the boat in a “grossly negligent manner” for a personal trip and the matter is ongoing.

In a statement, DLNR Chair Dawn Chang said: “We realise that for the Maui community, especially those who cherish Honolua Bay, this settlement may be disappointing and not enough. However, under this tentative settlement with the Albert Trust, the State will receive almost $600,000 for the removal of the vessel, coral damage, and administrative fines.  We will continue to aggressively pursue those who harm our cultural and natural resources."

The salvage costs were covered by the owner’s boat insurance and exceeded $450,000.

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Courtesy of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources

Contractors attach tow lines to the Nakoa, a luxury yacht, on Sunday in Honolua Bay, Maui. The yacht had been stuck on a reef for nearly two weeks.

The luxury yacht Nakoa sinks off the coast of Honolua Bay, Maui, after it was freed from the reef it was stuck on for nearly two weeks. It was scuttled intentionally on Sunday.

HONOLUA BAY, Maui — The 120-ton luxury yacht stuck on the shore reef of Honolua Bay was finally freed over the weekend, only to then be sunk to the bottom of the ocean on Sunday.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had been struggling to remove the yacht Nakoa since its grounding on Feb. 20, allegedly caused by a mooring line severing while its owner, Jim Jones, was aboard with his family.

After two failed attempts to refloat the craft last week, the yacht was pulled from the reef at around 1 p.m. on Sunday in a joint effort by the salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine LLC, and tractor tug Mary Catherine, operated by Sause Brothers Inc., according to a statement from the department.

Shortly after, the DLNR reported the vessel had “taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high.”

The department’s initial plan was to take the yacht back to Honolulu, but that option became unfeasible when the boat started sinking due to holes in its hull. Instead, its contractors scuttled the vessel in 800 feet of water.

“Scuttling the vessel was always a possibility,” said Dan Dennison, DLNR’s senior communications manager, in a March 6 email response to The Garden Island.

According to Dennison, the yacht now lies at the bottom of the channel between Maui and Moloka‘i.

The Garden Island could not reach Jones for comment regarding his yacht being deliberately sunk at sea.

But Dennison repeated previous statements that Jones will be responsible for all costs associated with the removal, as well as additional costs for damage to the reef and live rock.

Dennison added that an increase in costs still remains to be determined, and that he was not aware of any contact between Jones and the DLNR since the salvage.

The department previously reported it would charge Jones $460,000 just for the yacht’s removal, not including any environmental damage.

Damage to the area, located just outside the Honolua-Mokule‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District, has been a major topic of concern for both government officials and community members since the incident first occurred.

Dennison claimed that sinking the yacht would not cause any significant marine pollution.

“As for the environmental impacts associated with the scuttling, they should be minimal, as all fuel and hazardous materials had been previously removed by a contractor working under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard,” he said, adding any items that were on the surface or floated up were also collected.

State Board of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang also addressed concerns about environmental damage in an interview shortly after the yacht’s removal, noting her appreciation of community members who have been monitoring and watching the scene to ensure that “this special resource is protected.”

“I will assure you, the department is going to use all of its resources, including the attorney general’s office, to hold this vessel and its owners accountable,” she said, “both for the damages to the reef, the environment, all the costs associated with the removal of the vessel, as well as all of the administrative costs.”

Chang said a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources plans on conducting a post-grounding damage assessment of the coral and live rock later this week.

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Maui businessman, captain sued for $2M after grounding luxury yacht

A business owner whose luxury yacht ran aground and leaked diesel fuel into waters off Maui last month is being sued for more than $2 million in damages by a trust that sold him the vessel.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu on Monday seeks at least $1.45 million for the loss of the yacht, which was supposed to be paid off over the course of 15 years. It also seeks at least $500,000 for salvage work and at least $500,000 for environmental damages.

Kevin and Kimberly Albert, trustees of the Albert Revocable Trust in New Mexico, filed the lawsuit against Jim Jones, his company Noelani Yacht Charters, and ship captain Kimberley Kalalani Higa.

The lawsuit says the only approved captain on the insurance policy was Joe Bardouche. Both have a 100 T U.S. Coast Guard license.

The lawsuit says Jones and his company used the vessel “in a grossly negligent manner” for a personal trip without seeking the approval of the trust.

The 94-foot yacht Nakoa ran aground in Honolua Bay on Feb. 20 after its mooring line snapped. Private contractors towed the ship out to sea, where it sank in about 800 feet (244 meters) of water on March 5.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to bill Jones for the $460,000 cost of salvaging the boat. It's also considering fines after the episode damaged coral reef.

The lawsuit says Jones notified the trust after the grounding that he had taken the yacht out for personal use.

It says Jones and Noelani Yacht Charters breached a purchase agreement holding the buyer responsible for any risk of loss or damage. The agreement also outlined operations, crew requirements and restricted uses.

A phone message left for Jones at Noelani Yacht Charters was not immediately returned. The company's website says it's no longer in business.

The company told The Maui News in February that “this was a family retreat with an unfortunate ending.”

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94-foot yacht freed from Maui rocky shoreline only to sink 800 feet deep

Nearly two weeks after a 120-ton, 94-foot luxury yacht grounded in Honolua Bay on Maui, a salvage ship and a tugboat from Honolulu finally freed the vessel named Nakoa from the rocky shoreline.

But there is no happy ending for the yacht.

It is now at the bottom of the ocean, about 800 feet deep.

The multimillion-dollar yacht had suffered severe holes in the hull during the days it was grounded, with the rough surf pounding it repeatedly against the rocks of the shoreline.

“It had taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high after being pulled free by a tractor tug early this afternoon,” according to the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

The yacht sank.

It was the end to an ordeal that began nearly two weeks ago when the yacht grounded just outside the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District. Although the area has day-use moorings with a time limit of two hours, yacht owner Jim Jones told media that he didn’t know the rules  and stayed overnight with his family when one of the lines snapped and the boat hit the rocks.

It has been quite the ordeal to salvage the boat.

Once the boat stated leaking fuel, the U.S. Coast Guard federalized the vessel, meaning it has jurisdiction over the yacht which cannot be moved until all hazardous material was removed .

When that process was done the state Department of Land and Natural Resources took over because Jones said he did not have the money to pay for the salvage operation. The state organized and is paying for the operation, but will be sending Jones a bill, which initially was for $460,000 plus. But that will be sure to go up due to all the problems encountered during the salvage.

Once the hazardous material was removed, Visonary Marines’s salvage ship Kahi from Honolulu tried to removed the yacht from the reef but failed after multiple pulls. Sause Brothers’ tractor tug Mary Catherine was called in from Honolulu to help, but the second attempt with both boats also failed. Then bad weather forced both salvage boats to return to Honolulu.

They returned to Maui on Saturday.

A crew from the salvage ship rigged lines to the yacht Nakoa   all day Saturday and Sunday morning to prepare for the third attempt.

Prior to the 3,300-horsepower tug hooking up, the salvage crew used a carbon cutter to free either the yacht’s prop or rudder, believed to be the reason earlier attempts did not succeed, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

On Sunday, there were ideal weather and ocean conditions for the complex and costly operation. Once the tug turned the boat 90 degrees it pulled out into deeper water. 

“The yacht was listing to one side and riding bow high and it’s unknown at this time whether it was successfully pulled all the way to Honolulu or had to be scuttled in 1,000-foot-deep water offshore,” the Department and Land and Natural Resources said.

Department Chair Dawn Chang watched the salvage operation on Sunday with Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin. Chang said she heard almost immediately from Randy Cates, the owner and operator of Visionary Marine. 

“I’m beyond words,” Chang said. “I extended our appreciation to him and his crew for doing a tough, thankless job when others in the industry were questioning the wisdom of taking it on. We all thought today was it. It was either going to happen or not. I’m extremely pleased.” 

Chang said the state will aggressively pursue recouping all salvage costs from the owner, which originally were set at $460,000 plus before delays and the need for a second boat were included in the cost.

It also does not include the cost to repair damage to coral reefs and live rock. A team from the state Division of Aquatic Resources will return to the grounding location this week to conduct a post-incident damage assessment. 

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Grounded 28m Sunseeker yacht sinks during Hawaii salvage operation

Tuesday, March 7th, 2023

Written by: Marine Industry News

Almost two weeks after the 28.1m yacht Nakoa was grounded in Honolua Bay on Maui, Hawaii, the yacht has sunk to a depth of around 300 metres during a salvage operation.

The Sunseeker yacht was originally grounded on 19 February 2023 , after breaking free of its mooring in Honolua Bay, which is a protected marine reserve. Although the area does permit day-use moorings for a maximum of two hours, the yacht’s owner Jim Jones told local media that he ‘didn’t know the rules’ and was overnighting with his family on Nakoa , when a line broke, causing the 2004 Sunseeker 94 to hit the rocks nearby.

The original estimate of the salvage was $460,000, and this will have increased with the final, failed attempt. A previous attempt to salvage the vessel had been unsuccessful due to poor weather.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) issued a statement before the salvage operation, confirming that the yacht would either be towed to Honolulu, around 90 nautical miles away, or it would have to be scuttled due to a large number of holes in the hull.

While fuel, batteries and other pollutants had been removed from Nakoa after it became grounded, eyewitness reports had noted considerable fuel leakage surrounding the vessel in the aftermath.

The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources reports already finding damage to around 30 coral and live rock, and its dive team is returning to conduct a full assessment.

Coral in the marine reserve is protected under state law, and Jones could therefore face stiff financial penalties for the damage.

“We understand everyone’s frustration with the grounding and harm to the reef at Honolua, a bay with abundant marine life that’s loved by many residents of Maui and visitors alike,” says DLNR first deputy Laura Kaakua.

In an unrelated incident in March 2022, controversy erupted in Queensland, Australia, after parts of a millionaire’s luxury yacht began washing up on a pristine beach . The 27-metre cruiser sank in Statue Bay, on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast, after large waves damaged it during a storm.

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3 responses to “grounded 28m sunseeker yacht sinks during hawaii salvage operation”.

Sorry, but how can anybody expect such a vessel to survive a tow at any (particularly full) speed with BOTH owner’s suite opening portlights very near to the INTACT waterline, FULLY OPEN; to only connect an (unnecessary) cross tow line through it. There is absolutely NO reason she should have sunk if proper preparations would have been taken including temporary sealing damaged hull sections prior to the tow, further adding to the insult on the local environment! Astonishing..

I just hope the irresponsible owner will be held fully accountable for the environmental damage.

Pendejo and sons performed the three stooges reenactment aka salvage operation. Genius woke community leaders bemoan rock scratches while celebrating 100 tons of man made Petri based substances to be outgassong and rotting on the ocean floor for the next 100 years. The sinking was a woke order of totalitarian power and virtue signaling. Because it wasn’t their yacht.

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VIDEO: Luxury yacht sinks in Maui

Published on March 10th, 2023 by Editor -->

Debris now litters Honolua Bay in the area where the luxury yacht now sits at the bottom of the ocean. Nakoa, a 94-foot 2004 Sunseeker, ran aground on February 20 and two weeks later sank in 800 feet of water before it could be towed to Honolulu, 90 miles away.

Located near the northern tip of Maui, the mooring it was on failed, and then the yacth drifted onto a reef near a marine sanctuary. Contractors provided pollution mitigation, putting absorbent materials inside the vessel to capture any loose products, and placed a containment boom around the vessel.

They also pumped diesel from the vessel fuel tanks into 55 gallon drums which were airlifted by helicopter and transported to land for disposal. Fourteen batteries were also airlifted for disposal.

Tags: accident , US Coast Guard

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Editorial | Off the News

Off the news: doomed yacht sinks off maui.

• March 8, 2023

The luxury yacht Nakoa, subject of much concern and condemnation after its Feb. 20 grounding in Honolua Bay, Maui, has literally sunk to the depths Read more

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The luxury yacht Nakoa, subject of much concern and condemnation after its Feb. 20 grounding in Honolua Bay, Maui, has literally sunk to the depths. If not for its risky mooring, leaked diesel fuel and damage to coral in the bay, one could almost feel sorry for owner Jim Jones of Noelani Yacht Charters LLC.

The 94-foot, 120-ton luxury yacht drifted onto the reef after its mooring line failed, and only after repeated attempts was it finally towed off the coral, on Sunday. En route to Oahu, though, it took on water, sinking in 800-foot-deep seas.

Next, the state plans to pursue Jones and Noelani Yacht Charters for all costs related to the grounding.

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Editorial: conservation win for the high seas.

Infamous boat-sinking orcas spotted hundreds of miles from where they should be, baffling scientists

Orcas that attack and sink boats in southwestern Europe have been spotted circling a vessel in Spain, hundreds of miles from where they should currently be. And scientists can't explain why.

Orcas that have been terrorizing boats in southwest Europe since 2020 were recently spotted circling a vessel in Spain for the first time this year. The close encounter, which took place hundreds of miles from where the cetaceans should currently be, hints that this group is switching up its tactics — and scientists have no idea why.

The Iberian subpopulation of orcas ( Orcinus orca ) is a small group of around 40 individuals that lives off the coast of Spain and Portugal, as well as in the Strait of Gibraltar — a narrow body of water between southern Spain and North Africa that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. 

Since 2020, individuals from this group have been approaching and occasionally attacking boats , sometimes causing serious damage to the vessels and even sinking them. The most recent sinking occurred on Oct. 31, 2023 , but the orcas have sent at least three other boats to the bottom of the sea . However, no humans have been injured or killed.  

Related: Orcas are learning terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter?  

On April 10, three of these orcas were spotted persistently swimming near a large yacht off the coast of Malpica in Galicia, northern Spain, local news site Diario de Pontevedra reported . The trio did not attack the vessel, but local conservation group Orca Ibérica GTOA, which has been closely monitoring the Iberian subpopulation, warned boaters to "take caution when passing through" the area.

The encounter was surprising as the orcas don't normally venture this far north until mid to late summer, Spanish science news site gCiencia reported . 

"Theoretically, they are in the Strait [of Gibraltar] in the spring and should reach the north [of Spain] at the end of the summer," Alfredo López Fernandez , a biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal and representative of the Atlantic Orca Working Group, told gCiencia in the translated article. "There is an absolute lack of knowledge" about why this is happening, he added. 

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Other orcas have also been spotted further east along the Spanish coastline toward Biscay and further south in Portuguese waters over the last few weeks, gCiencia reported. The orcas normally only enter these areas to follow tuna, their preferred prey. It is unclear if the tuna have arrived early this year.

So far, the orcas have not attacked any boats. But López Fernandez believes this could start within the next few months. However, he says it is hard to predict when and where these encounters will occur.

Scientists still don't know exactly why these attacks started. Some researchers believe that the first attacks may have been perpetrated by a lone female named "White Gladis," who may have been pregnant when she started harassing the boats . But regardless of how it started, the behavior quickly spread among the group. 

So far, at least 16 different individuals have attacked boats. Eyewitnesses also claim to have seen orcas teaching other individuals how to attack boats, with an emphasis on attacking vessels' rudders to immobilize them.

There is also a suggestion that the behavior may have spread outside the population after a boat in Scotland was attacked by a different group in June 2023. However, it is impossible to prove this attack was connected to the others.

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As the number of attacks has increased, boat owners have started using firecrackers and even guns to scare off the orcas, gCiencia reported. However, scientists like López Fernandez have urged for restraint because the subpopulation is "in danger of extinction."

"We want to transmit real and truthful information," López Fernandez said. "We're not going to hide that the orcas can touch the boats and sometimes break something, but we also have to be aware that what we have in front of us is not a monster."

Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before training to become a journalist. He covers a wide range of topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior, evolution and paleontology. His feature on the upcoming solar maximum was shortlisted in the "top scoop" category at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Awards for Excellence in 2023. 

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“Sink or Sail” Boat Race Competition Comes to El Camino College

The students of El Camino College’s Society of Women Engineers are inviting everyone to come watch an action-packed cardboard boat race featuring homemade watercraft. Set for 1-3 p.m. April 19 in the campus pool, this first-ever “Sink or Sail” event challenges students to use their creativity and engineering skills by building human-sized cardboard boats to race and battle. Professors will paddle the boats across the pool, all vying for victory and bragging rights.

Civil engineering major Sidney Lee began organizing the event earlier this spring, along with committee members Rania Gomaa-Mersal, Leah Ortega, Toni Kim, and Ashley Tumanjan. They were looking to offer additional opportunities on campus where students could receive hands-on experience in engineering/STEM.

“This Sink or Sail competition is a fun way for students to showcase their knowledge while learning along the way,” added Lee, who is also vice president of SWE. “As students, much of what we learn can sometimes feel abstract and while we have labs to help broaden our understanding of the material, I think this competition can help students deepen their understanding of science, independent of the classroom and professors.”

Student teams manage the entire project, including the design, construction, and decoration of the boats and oars. Boats must be no larger than 6 feet long and 4 feet wide and built with provided materials and/or additional items from an approved list, such as cardboard, duct tape, hot glue, and caulking. Professors are assigned to a boat on race day and then must use the student-built oars to row from one end of the pool to the other – about 25 yards. 

Eight boats are entered; awards will be given to best design, fastest time during the race, and the “Boattle Royale” designation will honor the last boat floating at the end of the competition.

In addition to the race, the event features complimentary refreshments, information about El Camino’s engineering programs and SWE, along with additional surprises.

The El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

For more information about El Camino College’s STEM programs, view  https://www.elcamino.edu/academics/areas-of-study/ .