YACHT BREAKS FREE OF MOORINGS IN HAWAII, IMPACTS CORALS

A superyacht recently broke free from its moorings and began leaking fuel in Honululu Bay, Hawaii, in an incident the authorities in Antigua say could be replicated in the case of the Alfa Nero, if quick action is not taken.
The 29-metre superyacht Nakoa drifted before running hard aground in shallow water, peppered by rocks and reef.
The UK Guardian reports US Coast Guard seized jurisdiction of the yacht, after its owner, the charter mogul Jim Jones, informed authorities that he would not organise or pay for the boat’s salvage.
Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a series of statements that jones would instead receive a bill of at least US$460,000 for the salvage effort, and may face further penalties and possible legal action.
It took contractors three salvage attempts over nearly two weeks to dislodge the 122-tonne Nakoa. On March 5, three tugboats managed to drag it back into the water.
The grounding occurred just outside a significant marine conservation zone, and the yacht struck and damaged at least 30 corals and live rocks, its hull leaking diesel into the reef.
Authorities in Antigua, eager to have the Alfa Nero yacht removed from the Falmouth Harbour, have pointed to the clear and present danger of a similar marine mishap.