KAILUA-KONA — Much of the salvage of the wrecked Spirit of Kona has been completed, but work remains to be done, the Department of Land and Natural Resources reports.
The vessel ran aground and sank July 24 near Kukailimoku Point in Kailua-Kona early during Tropical Storm Darby after breaking free of its mooring in Kailua Bay. While it was on the rocks, much of the vessel was shredded, scattering debris along the coastline. The hull drifted offshore and sank in about 20 feet of water.
As of Tuesday, the DLNR reported the shoreline debris was cleaned up. About a quarter of the hull remains on the ocean floor. Removal is estimated to take another 10 -12 days.
“The salvor is working with a local recycling company to remove the recovered hull debris to shoreside disposal at Honokohau Harbor,” the department’s public information office said.
The rest of the vessel will not be seeing the light of day.
“All recoverable hazardous material was removed before a large intact piece of submerged hull was towed out to sea and disposed of last week, with cooperation of the EPA, Coast Guard and State,” DLNR wrote in an email.
The U.S. Coast Guard investigation into the accident is ongoing, said Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie. They are in part awaiting for the recovery of more material, she said.