Falls of Clyde
I attended the Waianae Neighborhood Board Parks & Recreation meeting tonight and got quite a lot of information on what is happening with the Falls of Clyde.
There is a very real possibility that it will be sunk as near-shore off Waianae as an artificial reef. Apparently, this has been in the works for a while. The State, DLNR, and the Waianae Community are all for the project. There are a few possible roadblocks. First, there has been an offer from a buyer from Australia. Bishop Museum, the owner, has given them until the first week of September to come up with the money. If they do, that is where it will go.
At this point, Bishop Museum has had the boat cleaned and approved by the EPA for scuttling 15 miles offshore. And they desperately want to be rid of it and spend as little money in the process.
For sinking near-shore, it would have to be given a clean bill by the State Department of Health. Since the EPA has already, it may pass.
First however, the lower deck needs to be secured as there are entanglement hazards there.
Secondly, there is the issue of the boat’s masts. If the boat sinks upright, it will not pass the Coast Guard’s clearance requirement of 40’. They have an underwater construction team has agreed to cut the masts off if it fails to sink on its side. To sink it without first removing or cutting the masts to meet the USCG requirements, would mean that they would have to have a waiver granted.
If it is sunk off Waianae, it will be done between the Mahi and the barge that rests about 120 yards away.
I was told that there is about a 95% chance that it will be sunk off Waianae as a near-shore reef.
As a state employee, I can tell you that there is no way it will happen if there is any other bidder for it who is willing to quickly pony up the cash. The State as a whole is having serious budget problems in light of our declining economy and escalating fuel prices. They’re worried about how to pay their electric bills! They are not going to buy a ship just so they can sink it to provide an attraction that statistically few tourists will ever see! If they can get it for free or nominal costs, that’s a different story and your letters will make a difference there! The Board members advised sending letters to Laura Thielen, the head of DLNR, and cc’ing them to Governor Linda Lingle.