Army accused of coral damage
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer
The Army has begun an investigation into allegations that one of its ships anchored about 1.5 miles off Ma'ili Beach on the Leeward Coast since Tuesday has caused damage to coral and the sunken ship Mahi, a popular diving attraction.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Army spokesman Troy Griffin said the 272-foot Harold C. Clinger, a 1988 military logistic support vessel home-ported at Ford Island, has been anchored off the Wai'anae Coast during a routine diver training mission.
An Army vessel lies anchored off Ma'ili's Ulehawa Beach where Albert Louis of Island Landscaping and Maintenance Inc. irrigates the coconut palms. According to commercial dive boat operators, an Army ship off Ma'ili has damaged coral by dragging its anchor across the sea floor.
The Mahi, a 163-foot mine-sweeper built in 1942, was purposely sunk off Wai'anae as an artificial reef in 1982.
William Aila, Wai'anae Boat Harbor master, said he received complaints from commercial dive boat operators who told him that coral and the Mahi had been damaged by the Army ship's anchor after it dragged across the sea floor.
"My concern is for the continued damage to the coral in and around the area that surrounds the Mahi," he said.
On Wednesday, Aila notified the state Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. The agency sent an officer out to question the complaining dive boat operators.
Aila said he also notified the Army at Schofield Barracks. The Army later said the matter is "under investigation."
