Big waves apparently sink tugboat, close several beaches
Caution tape was strung from advisory signs to keep beach goers away from the high surf at the North Shore on Wednesday.
Large surf damaged a water line and a life guard tower at Hapuna Beach this week on Hawaii island.
Traffic was backed up along Kamehameha Hwy due to the high surf on Wednesday.
Detail of high surf on the North Shore on Wednesday. The waves were measuring at about 25 feet early in the afternoon.
Waters from high surf rushed up to Kamehameha Hwy at Rock Piles High surf on Wednesday.
A woman took a photo of the high surf at Rock Piles on the North Shore.
People took photos of the high surf at Shark's Cove on Wednesday.
One boat sank, several beaches around the state were closed, and state facilities on Hawaii island sustained minor damage from high surf that is expected to stick around statewide until 6 p.m. Saturday.
The high-surf warning is in effect for north and west shores of Nii-hau, Kauai, Oahu and Molo-kai; for the north shores of Maui; and for the west shores of Hawaii island.
Waves grew to 25 to 35 feet Thursday on Oahu’s North Shore but were expected to fall to 20 to 30 feet Friday. South Shore waves were expected to hit 15 to
20 feet Thursday night, lowering to 12 to 18 feet Friday.
It was not clear whether the swell caused a tugboat to sink Thursday afternoon off Barbers Point.
Crew members aboard the 95-foot vessel, Nalani, called the Coast Guard for help at 3:13 p.m. and said they were taking on water, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle.
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Molle said the 10 crew members and pilot were conducting sea trials about 2.5 miles off Kalaeloa when they ran into trouble.
“The boat completely sank in approximately 300 feet of water,” Molle said. The crew waited for help in the water.
A good Samaritan vessel or vessels responded and rescued the overboard crew, then transferred them to a Coast Guard boat that arrived later. The Coast Guard boat took the crew to Sand Island at about 6 p.m., Molle said.
No one was hurt.
