Certain vessels can anchor in Waimea Bay for 72 hours

Question: I’ve lived on the North Shore for over 60 years. During my residency, I enjoyed the beauty of Waimea Bay until recently. I’ve noticed boats anchored really close to the shoreline. Most recently two boats have been anchored extremely close to the shoreline for two weeks. What is going to prevent other boats from anchoring in the bay? My bigger concern is whether they are dumping sewage in the bay.

Answer: Nonmotorized boats are allowed to drop anchor within Waimea Bay.

But it’s not clear whether the two boats seen in the photo you provided are the required 200 feet from shore, according to Meghan Statts, Oahu District boating manager for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

The boats are in Zone A of the state’s Ocean Management Recreational Areas for Sharks Cove, Three Tables and Waimea Bay.

Zone A essentially is Waimea Bay, with the outer boundary running diagonally from Waimea Point on the Sharks Cove side to a point past the jumping rock at the other end.

Bathing, swimming and surfing are allowed in Zone A. Pole and line fishing may be permitted where indicated by signs, Statts said.

No motorized vessels are permitted within the area, but other vessels may anchor there as long as they are not within 200 feet of the shoreline, she said. She said she couldn’t tell from the photo whether the boats met the requirement.

"There are a number of sailing vessels that do moor in Waimea Bay off and on," Statts said. "Our rules do allow for a vessel to anchor safely in an area that is designated within (DLNR’s Hawaii Administrative Rules), but they can only be there for 72 hours and then the vessel must move."

Section 13-256-62 of the Administrative Rules says sailing vessels with auxiliary engines are required to enter and leave Zone A on sail power or by oar only and that all vessels must proceed "at a speed of slow-no-wake."

Sewage Discharge 

Dumping of "personal sewage" into Waimea Bay is prohibited, Statts said.

The U.S. Coast Guard enforces federal regulations and laws related to the marine environment, including what boaters are allowed to do.

That includes strict regulations for what marine vessels are allowed to discharge and where.

Annex IV of MARPOL (part of an international agreement on preventing marine pollution) regulates the discharge of sewage from ships. It prohibits discharging sewage into the sea, except when there is an approved sewage treatment plant or when the ship is discharging treated sewage using an approved system more than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land. Untreated sewage has to be discharged more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

Mahalo

Belatedly to two kind gentlemen. After having my hair done on a Thursday morning in April, I started my walk up on Salt Lake Boulevard. But when I finally reached the intersection of Ala Napunani Street, 

I felt dizzy, so I sat down on a stone wall, holding onto the wire fence. I heard someone call out, "Auntie, you OK?" Then a nice gentleman suggested calling 911. I told him not to because I was feeling better, but he suggested they check me anyway. When the firetruck and ambulance came, both men left (I’m sorry I didn’t get their names), but I do remember Capt. Shimizu from the Moanalua Fire Station, who called to see how I was doing. I was a bit embarrassed, but do want to thank everyone who came to my aid. — Grateful Senior

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.