AASHTO Journal - Hawaii DOT Disposes of Historic ‘Falls of Clyde’ Ship

The Hawaii Department of Transportation and its contractor, Florida-based Shipwright LLC, recently completed he disposal of the historic “Falls of Clyde” ship; removing it from Honolulu Harbor and sinking it 25 miles south in deep ocean waters on October 15.

[Above photo by the Hawaii DOT]

Hawaii DOT said in a statement that this $4.9 million maritime disposal project involved nearly 100 Oahu island businesses and vendors; demonstrating “strong local collaboration and expertise,” according to the agency.

The operation also benefited from specialized coral salvage support provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the ‘Ānuenue Coral Nursery, and Fisheries Research Center – as well as the U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency.

Hawaii DOT said the 146-year-old “Falls of Clyde” has been docked at Honolulu Harbor since 2008, most recently at Pier 7, where it once served as a museum ship as part of the Hawaii Maritime Center. The vessel was impounded in 2016 when its permit was revoked and the owner failed to remove it from the harbor.

Starting in July, Shipwright removed debris from the vessel, restored its watertight integrity, and conducted hull strength remediation so the ship could safely be towed out of the harbor in the event of a storm threat or other emergency.

Prior to its last voyage, a group called “The Friends of Falls of Clyde” conducted a small send-off ceremony for the ship ahead of its planned sinking.

Hawaii DOT said it will continue to work with this organization to memorialize the vessel in a permanent display that will feature key artifacts – including the vessel’s name board, steering wheel, and bell.

Other artifacts removed from the vessel have been transferred to the National Park Service and will be displayed at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, with some of the rigging tools from Falls of Clyde to be used for the maintenance of the Balclutha, a three-masted square-rigged Scottish-built ship moored at the park.