Hawaii Will Claim Damages for Grounding of Navy Warship

In a letter to the U.S. Pacific Fleet sent Wednesday, DLNR Chairperson Laura Thielen says the state intends to make a claim for damages that include "the cost of emergency mitigation to prevent further damage; the value of the coral reef substrate damaged by the grounding of the Port Royal and associated attempts to free the 567-foot long vessel; and other secondary and tertiary damage to the reef ecosystem."

"The reef that was injured is an ancient one, full of coral colonies some of which took hundreds of years to reach their present size. A complex reef structure such as the one that was present prior to this injury forms numerous and intricate houses for the myriad of fish, invertebrates and sea turtles that use this reef for shelter and food resources," Thielen said.

A diver examines the coral reef damaged by the U.S.S. Port Royal. (Photo courtesy DLNR)

The state will be seeking compensation from the Navy to fund and implement coral habitat restoration projects that will enhance Hawaii's reef systems and mitigate for loss of ecological services caused by the grounding of the vessel.

"While the state also intends to seek compensation from the U.S. Navy for any damage caused by the grounding incident, the first priority remains protection of the remaining coral reef resources," said Thielen.

"Hawaii's coral reefs are the building blocks of our islands. They provide essential habitat for our diverse fish and marine life, which in turn provide us food, and form the basis for our economic wellbeing through fishing, research, education, ocean recreation and tourism," said Thielen.

"We are asking the U.S. Navy to work with us to achieve the mutual goal of protection of the natural resources and minimization of ongoing damage to the same public trust resources," Thielen said.

On February 5, the U.S.S. Port Royal ran aground on the coral reef fronting the Honolulu International Airport's Reef Runway in depths of 14 to 22 feet. The reef is clearly marked on all navigational charts.

The $1 billion guided missile cruiser, skippered by Capt. John Carroll, was returning to Pearl Harbor when it ran aground about a mile and a half from the entrance to the harbor.

The 9,600 ton vessel was stuck atop the reef for three-and-a-half days during which several attempts were made to free the vessel, which was finally removed on February 9.

"This large endeavor brought together many different organizations that worked around the clock as a team with one objective in mind, saving the ship while containing the damage to the environment," said Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Robert Willard on February 11.

U.S.S. Port Royal (Photo courtesy NATO)

"We are investigating this event to ensure that things like this will not happen again," the admiral said.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said Wednesday in a statement that the Navy has been working on a proposal to remediate the damage caused by the grounding of the warship.

"As state officials are aware, the underwater portion of the Navy's detailed assessment of the affected area was only recently completed," the Navy said. "We briefed the [DLNR] and other interested parties about the preliminary findings of the assessment at the time."

Officials from the DLNR and the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General met with Navy officials today to discuss next steps, including addressing disturbed or destroyed coral and mitigation of the secondary and tertiary damage resulting from the grounding incident.

Thielen warned that costs will increase substantially unless the Navy acts to immediately mitigate the primary damage impacts by assisting in the recovery of injured coral; preventing further secondary damage by removing or stabilizing significant amounts of damaged coral rubble prior to the arrival of large south summer swells; and protecting loose live coral to prevent further damage to public trust resources, in coordination with the State and in compliance with emergency permitting requirements.

The grounding site has been mapped and damages have been documented by the State and its natural resource trustee partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as the Navy's consultants, CSA International.

The main reef injury scar covers an estimated area of approximately 8,000 square meters, or nearly two acres. The documentation of the full area and extent of the damage associated with the grounding has not been completed, but it is estimated to cover an area of approximately 25,000 to 40,000 square meters, or approximately six to 10 acres.

Thielen said, "At a time when our reefs, and reefs worldwide, are under threat from changes in local and global ecosystems, losing such a big area at one time has a large impact on our state's interconnected aquatic ecosystem."

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