A routine docking run in Honolulu Harbor turned into a long-term headache for everyone who relies on Pier 16, after a commercial fishing vessel lost control and struck the bridge that carries Nimitz Highway on Jan. 3. State officials have now shut down the Diamond Head and makai sections of the pier, along with the surrounding waters, pulling multiple berths out of service indefinitely while engineers inspect the bridge supports and map out repairs.
According to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Harbor Master Notice, the Diamond Head and makai sides of Pier 16 are closed to vessel docking and “the waters surrounding Pier 16 Diamond Head, extending to Nimitz Highway” are closed to all vessel traffic. The notice tells vessel operators, agents and other stakeholders not to schedule or attempt any movements inside the restricted zone, and warns that ignoring the order could mean fines or a loss of harbor privileges. HDOT says the closure will stay in place until it is formally rescinded or changed in writing.
How the collision unfolded
HDOT reports that the trouble started on Jan. 3, when a commercial fishing vessel attempting to berth at Pier 16 lost control and allided with bridge infrastructure that supports Nimitz Highway, leaving the boat with what the agency called significant damage. As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the vessel was a 79-foot commercial fishing boat that lost power while trying to dock. The paper noted there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Why the berths will stay closed
In its Harbor Master Notice, HDOT points out that this is the third major incident involving vessels trying to berth at Pier 16 within the last two years, a track record that has state engineers pushing for a permanent protective fix before the Diamond Head side reopens. The department says it will continue assessing damage to the affected bridge supports and prepare repair work, a process that will ultimately determine when berthing can safely resume…