55-foot vessel’s hull intact after running aground at Maui harbor

The 55-foot Expeditions Five passenger ferry ran aground Monday near the entrance to Maui’s Māʻalaea Harbor, with three crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified shortly after 5 a.m. about the grounding.

Watchstanders issued an urgent marine broadcast to mariners and dispatched a 29-foot response boat-small crew from Station Maui in Māʻalaea. The Coast Guard crew confirmed that the vessel was hard aground, with the anchor deployed and the vessel’s hull intact.

The Expedition Five has a maximum diesel fuel capacity of 250-gallons, but there is no sheen or pollution coming from the vessel at this time. The vessel’s management is in contact with their insurance company to coordinate a plan for salvage efforts.

The next high tide is forecast for 4 a.m. Tuesday.

The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the situation.