Passenger Vessel Grounding in Lahaina Harbor
A Coast Guard investigator from Marine Safety Team Maui is continuing an investigation of a passenger vessel whose crew had run aground in the vicinity of Lahaina Harbor, Maui. The Spirit of Lahaina, a 65-ft catamaran, was re-floated and pulled from its grounding by Capt. Dave Jung of the vessel Kaulana. The crew was able to navigate the vessel back to its slip under its own power and moored up at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday. The investigator, Lt. Cmdr. James Stellflug, reports there is no risk of pollution as a result of this grounding and reported no flooding aboard the vessel.
“There was no breach in the hull,” said Stellflug. “The vessel was not taking on water in any way.”
The crew aboard the Spirit of Lahaina was navigating the vessel out from its harbor for a dinner cruise when it ran aground at approximately 5:30 p.m. Thursday. No injuries were reported and a Good Samaritan vessel evacuate d all 60 passengers. Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Maui responded aboard a 45-ft Response Boat Medium and arrived on scene to monitor the situation.
A Coast Guard investigator from MST Maui also arrived on scene to assess the situation.