Passenger Catamaran Struck by High Waves Near Hawaii

• The vessel Discovery reported an incident near the shores of Keval in Honolulu.
• The crew of two did not sustain injuries during the incident.
• Fuel and oil were released to mitigate pollution.

Honolulu — The outgoing passenger catamaran, similar in size to a yacht, was struck by powerful waves. The vessel, named Discovery, nearly capsized, first before managing to stabilize.

The incident occurred around 8 a.m. on Saturday when the waves reached their peak, and the tide began to recede. Two crew members were on board the catamaran. The vessel reported the incident near the shores of Keval in Honolulu, according to information from the U.S. Coast Guard.

To mitigate pollution, fuel, oil, and accumulators were released from the catamaran. A recovery operation is planned for the high tide on Sunday.

In video captured by witnesses, it is seen how Discovery is lifted by the waves to the side, but temporarily stabilizes in the coastal waters. A photograph from surfing Ramon Brokington indicates that the catamaran did not manage to overcome the high wave, which led to its incident on the reef.

Brokington described the situation as "unreal" and noted that he had never seen a catamaran of such size "surfing" on waves.

Discovery eventually returned to the concrete wall that protects the shore. The company Atlantis Adventures, which owns the catamaran, confirmed that the crew did not sustain injuries.

The company is working with all state agencies for the safe removal of the catamaran, its recovery back to the shore, and a thorough inspection before returning to service.

Tags: USA