Navatek II to be lifted from Ala Wai Boat Harbor

The Navatek II, an atilt 85-foot vessel in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, is expected to be lifted from the harbor today.

The boat has piled up over $16,000 in fines and fees for being docked at the harbor well past its 120-day temporary mooring permit.

Once on land, the boat’s value will be reassessed, and if it is determined to be worth over $5,000, the state will put it up for auction. If it does not sell, the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation will be responsible for the cost of its disposal.

“Unfortunately when boat owners do not keep up with their obligations or lack enough insurance to salvage their inoperable vessels the burden falls to every boater in the state,” said Meghan Statts, DOBOR Oahu’s district manager. “We’re forced to dip into the boating special fund, which is made up entirely of fees individual boaters pay for the use of slips, moorings, live aboard privileges, etc.”

The Navatek II was impounded in March, and DOBOR initially looked for bids for contractors to relocate it to Keehi Small Boat Harbor.

Xarbin Industries bid $28,000 and had started pumping out water from one of the hulls but stopped because it was possibly filled with mud.

DOBOR then decided to have Xarbin Industries lift the Navatek II from the harbor at the old haul out area at a new cost of $35,000.