Hawaii Health Officials Tentatively Approve Shipyard Pollution Permit Renewal
The Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch has preliminarily recommended renewing a water pollution control permit for Marisco, Ltd. The permit would allow the ship repair facility at Barbers Point Harbor to continue discharging treated wastewater from drydock operations under pollution controls. The facility uses floating drydocks and land-based shops, with discharges routed through several outfalls.
Hawaii's Clean Water Branch has given preliminary backing to renew Marisco, Ltd.'s NPDES permit, HI 0021893, for its Kapolei shipyard. The site repairs government and commercial vessels, using floating drydocks and shore shops for blasting, painting, and hull or mechanical work.
The yard spans two separate harbor shoreline parcels. The Peleke Nui drydock sends treated water through Outfall 011; Lil’ Perris and Skipper use Outfalls 001 and 014. Washwater goes to shore tanks for evaporation, while stormwater will be handled under a different permit. Public comments are due by November 13, 2026.
Renewal could affect harbor water quality, marine life, and people who use Barbers Point Harbor for recreation or work. Continued discharges under controls may limit pollution risks, while public comments could influence permit conditions or prompt a hearing. The shipyard’s operations and its government and commercial customers may also see continuity, but environmental outcomes depend on monitoring and compliance.