Posted on: Friday, May 24, 2002

Rescued dog's ship to be sunk off O'ahu

Advertiser Staff

The refueling tanker Insiko1907 will be towed out to sea today and sunk about 14 miles off O'ahu.

The Coast Guard hired Pacific Environmental to remove about 292,000 gallons of fuel, oil and water from the burned hulk of the vessel. That work was completed Tuesday, and Pacific Environmental will tow the Insiko about 14 miles southwest of Kalaeloa, where the tanker will be sunk in about 300 feet of water.

Coast Guard spokesman David Mosley estimated the cost of the operation at $500,625.

The Insiko caught fire March 13 and its 11 crewmen were adrift for nearly three weeks until they were rescued by the cruise ship Norwegian Star. One crewman died in the fire, and his body was recovered May 9 in the vessel's engine room.

The Insiko also was the subject of a successful canine rescue after the Hawaiian Humane Society found out that the captain's dog had been left behind when the crew transferred to the Norwegian Star. Hokget was rescued and is in quarantine on Kaua'i.