LIHUE -- A contract is expected to be signed by the end of this week between an Oahu salvage company and the owner of the long-line fishing boat Van Loi, which went aground off Kauai last month. Deal reached to salvage vessel off Kauai
By Anthony Sommer, Star-BulletinPat Ross, vice president for operations of Sea Engineering Co., said he has an agreement with Van Loi Corp. and permission from the owners of beachfront property near the wreck to set up equipment to retrieve what remains of the vessel.
He said he expects to sign a contract in a few days.
The start of the operation will depend on the weather. It will take about two weeks to drag all of the Van Loi wreckage ashore unless high surf causes delays, Ross said.
"This is real dangerous diving and we don't want to risk anyone getting hurt," he said.
Only two pieces of the wreck remain above surface in shallow water about 50 yards from shore. The rest, including miles of monofilament line and thousands of hooks and leaders, is scattered over the bottom. The Van Loi was heading from Oahu to the fishing grounds when it hit the reef off Kapaa.
A Coast Guard investigation has been completed and is awaiting review before being made public.
The 95-foot Van Loi, a former shrimp boat carrying a crew of six, first went aground near Anahola on Kauai's east shore early on the morning of April 10 and then headed out to sea. When it began sinking, it headed back toward Kauai.
An estimated 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the wreck but dissipated without causing damage to marine life.
Farrington High School's newspaper, "The Governor," has been named overall state winner in the annual Hawaii State High School Journalism Contest. Farrington's 'Governor' named
top high school newspaperThe awards, announced yesterday at a luncheon at the Pagoda Hotel, are presented by the Hawaii Publishers Association, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Hawaii Newspaper Agency and the Honolulu Advertiser.
A total of 28 schools had entries in this year's competition.
Other state winners were Sacred Hearts Academy for layout and design; Mililani High School for editorials; Baldwin and Kaimuki High Schools, tied for best features; Baldwin High School for news; King Kekaulike High School for photographics, and Hawaii Baptist Academy for sports.
District winners were:
Editorials: Farrington, Kailua, Waipahu, Pahoa, Lutheran, King Kekaulike and Kauai.
Man donates 15 years worth of pocket change
A man has donated the pocket change he accumulated for 15 years to the continuing Red Cross collection for Kosovo war victims.The coins delivered yesterday in seven large plastic bottles weighed 230 pounds, but the dollar amount hasn't been determined.
The anonymous donor joined hundreds of island residents who have contributed more than $370,000 to the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross. The international aid agency needs at least $1 million per week to meet emergency humanitarian needs of the refugees, according to the Red Cross.
Donations are being collected in water bottles in numerous offices around the state in the Refugee Aloha project started by volunteers at Unity Church. People may get a collection bottle or donate by calling the church office, 735-6116.
Direct tax-deductible contributions may be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu 96816. Internet users may make a contribution at www.redcross.org.
Lifeguard honored for research into jellyfish
City lifeguard Noble "Landy" Blair was to receive the Ocean Safety Division's community service award today at Kaanapali Beach Hotel.From researching box jellyfish behavior, Blair devised a model to predict when, where and in what quantities the box jellyfish will invade Oahu's south shore.
His accurate predictions have helped thousands to avoid painful box jellyfish stings.
Other Honolulu awards to be presented at the state's Ocean Safety and Prevention conference:
Cancer Survivor Day celebrated tomorrow
Doctors, nurses and cancer patients of Kaiser Permanente's oncology department will celebrate life tomorrow. The "Cancer Survivor Day Celebration" starts at noon in the Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center lobby.The one-hour program will include testimonials, including one by Jackie Young, former legislator and former executive director of Protect Our Constitution, and entertainment by cancer survivors.
Oncology means dealing with neoplasms or abnormal growth of tissue, as in tumors. Call 983-4982 for more information
Aloha Airlines had first-quarter revenues of $57.4 million, down 2.7 percent from $59 million in the year-earlier period. A Hawaii Inc. report yesterday had incorrect information. Correction
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffOfficer Merrill honored for work in first quarter
Deputy Police Chief William Clark has recognized officer Thomas Merrill as the department's Officer of the First Quarter and the Wahiawa crime reduction unit as Unit of the First Quarter.Kalihi officer Kevin Yamasaki will be awarded a Certificate of Merit.
Prison guard facing drug trial is released
A Circuit Court judge today granted supervised release to a suspended prison guard charged with possessing crystal methamphetamine.Richard Doolin, 45, an adult corrections officer for 18 years, was indicted in March on three felony charges and a petty misdemeanor drug charge after he purchased drugs in a reverse buy set up by police, deputy prosecutor Julian White said.
Judge Frances Wong ordered that Doolin live with his mother until he is accepted into and enters a residential drug treatment program.
The state objected, arguing that Doolin was a prison guard at the time and given the seriousness of the charges is an inappropriate candidate for supervised release.
Doolin has been suspended from the Department of Public Safety and expects to be terminated shortly. He faces at least 20 years on the charges if convicted. His trial is set for July.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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