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HDOT Awards $4.9M Contract To Remove 146-Year-Old Ship From Honolulu Harbor
The Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) has awarded a contract worth $4.9 million to Shipwright LLC for the removal of the Falls of Clyde, a 146-year-old ship, from Honolulu Harbor. The plan involves disposing of the vessel in the ocean at a deepwater site located at least 12 miles south of the harbor.
Shipwright LLC, a maritime consulting firm based in Florida, has been selected for this significant task. They have formed a team experienced in salvage operations, derelict vessel removal, towing, and managing delicate ship structures. Work is slated to commence on July 21, 2025, beginning with the removal of debris and ensuring watertight conditions in the ship’s subdivision bulkheads.
Following that, the company will carry out maintenance on the hull to ensure the ship can be safely towed out of the harbor, particularly in the event of a storm or emergency. Additional structural strengthening will take place from August to November 2025, with the vessel expected to be towed for final ocean disposal by the end of November.
Shipwright will also be responsible for obtaining the necessary approvals from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard prior to disposal. In July 2024, HDOT issued a request for proposals, asking for bids on the permanent removal of the vessel from the harbor. Bidders were required to outline their methods and strategies for the removal process.
Before this contract was awarded, HDOT had completed a Final Environmental Assessment in June 2024, exploring alternative removal methods such as dismantling, ocean dumping, or transferring the ship to a third party. The department also ensured compliance with all relevant state and federal regulations, including those related to historic preservation.
In 2023, HDOT collaborated with a maritime archaeologist to safely recover and document historical artifacts from the ship, which are now stored securely. The Falls of Clyde has been docked at Honolulu Harbor since 2008 and is currently located at Pier 7. It once functioned as a museum ship under the Hawai'i Maritime Center, but was impounded in 2016 when its permit was revoked, leading to its owner's failure to remove it from the harbor. Since then, HDOT has taken custody of the vessel.
For over a decade, HDOT has prioritized the removal of non-operational ships from Hawai'i's commercial ports to enhance port safety, improve operations, and boost commerce flow. Honolulu Harbor plays a crucial role in Hawai'i's economy, handling over 90% of the goods imported into the state.
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