Yacht investigated for coral damage in Hawaii

The owner of M/Y Formosa, a 196-foot Benetti built in 2015, could face a misdemeanor charge and fine for being anchored over coral in water that was too shallow and too close to the Kailua Pier navigation channel, West Hawaii Today has reported.

A local captain with Big Island Watersports reported the incident to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources.

“This ship had stopped for a one-day visit about a week ago and anchored in deeper water with a sandy bottom,” the department’s communications office told West Hawaii Today. “Unfortunately, there was a change of crew and a new captain. He was not informed of a proper location to drop anchor.”

Read the full story here.