HONOLULU -- The U.S. Coast Guard released reports Thursday on two fatal touring catamaran accidents that occurred in Hawaiian waters less than four months apart in December 2006 and March 2007.
The latter accident, on March 25, 2007, claimed the life of a 48-year-old Illinois man who was struck by a downed mast aboard the 55-foot Kiele V about two miles off Kahana. Hal W. Pulfer of Highland Park, Ill., was on a dinner and whale-watching cruise with his wife and three children - ages 7, 10 and 12 - when he was killed in the accident. Three other passengers were hospitalized. The incident occurred with winds blowing 20 to 30 mph and ocean swells of about 6 feet.
In the other accident, 13-year-old Jordan Loser died aboard the Na Hoku II off Diamond Head on Dec. 1, 2006. The teenager was pushed by a broken mast against the boat's cabin. Two other passengers were sent to a hospital for treatment.
In both cases, the masts of the sailing catamarans failed in strong winds, and the victims were struck and killed by the collapsing masts, the Coast Guard said Thursday. The cases raised questions about the adequacy of mast and rigging design, maintenance, surveys and inspections, according to the Coast Guard.
"Our deepest sympathies are with the families of the victims," said Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the U.S. Coast Guard captain of the Port of Honolulu. "These very comprehensive investigations take time because ultimately our goal is to ensure these kinds of accidents do not happen again. The investigations recommend some changes in the degree to which the Coast Guard inspects and regulates these types of vessels. We have already taken a number of steps to enhance our inspection process."
Compagnoni spoke with family members Wednesday to discuss the investigation reports and assure them that the tragedies have led to improved safety inspections of commercial sailing vessels.
In April and May 2007, Coast Guard inspectors boarded all 59 commercial sailing vessels in Hawaii to conduct detailed examinations in the wake of the fatal accidents. As the result of those inspections, 41 passed without discrepancies, but discrepancies were found in the remaining 18. Of those, 11 were found to have serious deficiencies that required action before the Coast Guard would approve sailing to resume.
Last summer, the Coast Guard developed and distributed to sailing catamaran owners in Hawaii a local policy statement that outlined enhanced inspection requirements for sail rigging, masts and other inspected equipment on small passenger sailing vessels.
"These tragedies highlighted a need for a more rigorous inspection and survey program," said Compagnoni, the Coast Guard's officer in charge of marine inspection for Hawaii.
