Salvage Company Removes Boat Sunk Off Hawaii Island

A marine salvage company has removed a 26-foot sailboat that sank in nearshore waters off Waikiki over the weekend.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says Sea Engineering began work at the site off the Elks Club on Tuesday. The state is paying more than $21,000 to remove the boat, which involved dismantling it and putting the pieces on a barge.

Circumstances of Sunday’s sinking are under investigation.

The department was notified of the vessel’s presence on Friday, when it was afloat.

A department enforcement officer and biologist inspected the boat the next day. They found the boat’s anchor line was wrapped around live rock and coral, causing concern for reef damage. The prompted the state to begin the process of notifying the owner to remove the sailboat.