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 HDOT says the closure will stay in place until it is formally rescinded or changed in writing.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.
State engineers are still working to pin down the full extent of the damage, and officials told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Nimitz Highway remains safe for travel. HDOT also says it is fast-tracking an evaluation of permanent fender systems or structural barriers to better shield both the bridge and the pier from future allisions. In other words, the next boat that loses power should not be able to get this close.
Impact on harbor users
The Harbor Master Notice orders vessel operators, agents and other stakeholders to steer clear of the restricted zone, with violations potentially triggering penalties or the loss of harbor access altogether. For local commercial fishing vessels and other regular users of Pier 16, that means scrambling for alternate berths while engineers work through inspections, repair plans and the design of long-term protective measures.
Past incidents and next steps
The Jan. 3 crash is not Pier 16’s first run-in with trouble. In January 2024, a fishing vessel attempting to dock near Pier 16 ran aground and struck a nearby bridge, according to officials at the time. Hawaii News Now covered that earlier incident, highlighting the pattern that HDOT now cites in arguing for a permanent fix.
HDOT’s Harbor Master Notice directs questions to the Oahu District Harbormaster’s Office, which can be reached at the phone number listed in the document. Officials have not yet released a repair timeline, but say more details on construction schedules and the design of any new protective barrier will be shared as plans move forward.
