Due to high surf conditions brought about by southerly swells, the U.S. Navy has suspended its efforts to restabilize a coral reefs damaged by the grounding of the U.S.S. Port Royal in February.

The Navy had already reattached nearly 5,400 coral colonies and removed 250 cubic yards of rubble at a cost of more than $7 million, according to a joint release by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
However, high surf stalled the effort for 17 days, costing more than $600,000, and the Navy decided to halt the project.
“The state appreciates the Navy’s commitment to timely actions to remove rubble before onset of southerly summer swells which were critical to prevent further damage to the reef habitat,” said DLNR chair Laura Thielen in the release. “However, any remaining rubble may cause additional damage to the reef and the surrounding areas. Once the summer swells have passed, future steps will involve identifying projects that can restore damaged reef and replace the loss of coral reef resources.”
The 9,600-ton Port Royal ran aground about a half-mile from the Honolulu International Airport’s Reef Runway on the night of Feb. 5 and was freed on Feb. 9. The area damaged by the grounding is a complex “spur and groove” fringing reef with outcrops of coral interspersed with sandy areas, according to DLNR.
On March 30, the state notified the Navy that it intends to file a claim for damage to the reef and asked the Navy to perform emergency work to salvage surviving live coral and stabilize the reef to prevent surf-driven debris from causing additional damage.
The ship remains under repair at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.