Hawaii Superferry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(May 2008)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

Hawaii Superferry Alakai, docking in Honolulu Harbor on June 30.

The Hawaii Superferry is a Hawaiʻi-based transportation company providing daily passenger and drive-on / drive-off vehicle fast ferry service between Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oʻahu and Kahului Harbor on Maui.^[1] The company has been the subject of legal challenges and protests over the need for an environmental impact assessment that resulted in the suspension of service in 2007. The company hopes to return to serve Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauaʻi and add service to Kawaihe Harbor on the Big Island.

1 Vessels
2 History
3 Current service
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Vessels

The vessels used by Hawaii Superferry are state of the art catamaran types designed and built by Austal USA, a division of Australia-based shipbuilder Austal. The company plans to add the second of its two 349-foot (106 m) ships in early 2009. The vessels are powered by MTU Friedrichshafen engines using waterjet propulsion which the company claims will minimize impact to marine mammals^[2].

Each is capable of transporting up to 866 passengers and 282 subcompact cars. The ships feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views, sofas and family seating, onboard dining, and flat-screen TVs and video games.

The first ship, the Alakai, arrived in Honolulu Harbor on June 30, 2007. ^[3] The second ship is scheduled for completion in 2009.

[edit] History

Private steamships and ferries were the sole way of traveling between the islands between the 1800s until the 1950s and returned twice since statehood, once in 1966 between Oahu, Maui and Big Island,^{[citation needed]} and Seaflite which operated hydrofoils between the major islands in the mid-1970s.^[4]

The concept of the Superferry was founded in 2001 and first announced by founders Timothy Dick, John Garibaldi, and Robert "Terry" White in September 2003 after more than two years of planning. Hawaii Superferry stated its plans to operate a daily service between the the newly built interisland ferry terminal at Pier 19 in Honolulu Harbor to Kahului on Maui and Nawiliwili on Kauai, with later expansion of service to Kawaihae near Kona on the Big Island. The company envisioned fares for a family trip to be similar to the equivalent airfare, car rental, and parking.^[5]

In January 2004, the company formed a partnership with Austal to build two high-speed catamarans. ^[6] Construction on the first ship began in June 2004. Meanwhile, the company secured its first investors, including Maui Land & Pineapple Company^[7] and Grove Farm on Kauai.^[8]

[edit] Inaugural voyage

An aerial view of the Alakai at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai during its Open House on August 19, 2007.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled on August 23, 2007 that the state Department of Transportation had erred in not requiring an environmental impact assessment for harbor improvements at Kahului Harbor, reversing an earlier ruling in 2005 by Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza. ^[9] Subsequently, Superferry announced that it would accelerate its launch to August 26, 2007, two days earlier than their originally scheduled launch date. ^[10]

Hawaii Superferry began service in August of 2007 with inaugural $5 fares. The inaugural voyages were sold out. The voyage to Maui was smooth and uneventful with a few environmental protestors observing peacefully at Kahului Harbor. However, about a dozen protestors on surfboards blockaded the ferry at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i. The Coast Guard cleared the ferry's path after 90 minutes. ^[11] Upon docking, protestors violently confronted passengers including Kaua'i residents and vandalized cars. Several protestors were arrested.^[12] ^[13], ^[14],^[15]

[edit] Suspension of service

On August 27, 2007, Justice Cardoza issued a temporary restraining order barring the Superferry from accessing Kahului Harbor, causing Maui service to be suspended. ^[16] Meanwhile, the Superferry was forced to turn back from its second trip to Kaua'i after protestors again blockaded the Nawiliwili Harbor resulting in several more arrests. Superferry passengers were forced to remain onboard for 9 hours, while Kaua'i residents were denied the ability to board the ferry. The company subsequently suspended services to Kaua'i.^[17]

The protester's concerns were that a ferry of this size could, traveling at speeds of about 40 mph (64 km/h), strike and kill whales during its voyages. Other concerns include the potential to import invasive species from Oahu, and the potential to bring drugs and homeless people to Kauai. ^[18]

In a meeting with State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa on September 14, 2007, the company stated that it may have to find another home for the ferry in order to pay operating expenses, repay debt, and provide return on the investments made. Describing their meeting, Hanabusa commented that they would have staying power for "a month—outside, a month and a half." Superferry officials, while declining to elaborate, did not dispute this.^[19]

On October 9, 2007 Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled the ferry could not resume service while the state conducts an environmental impact assessment. Two days later Superferry CEO John Garibaldi announced that the company must lay off 249 employees. 59 workers remained on the job to handle administrative and operational duties.^[20]. The maritime community was disturbed by the loss of jobs for U.S. mariners.^[21]

[edit] Special legislative session

In mid October 2007, Governor Linda Lingle met with the leaders of the Hawaii State Legislature to propose a special legislative session to allow the ferry will to operate while the state completed an environmental impact assessment. Senate and House leaders agreed. Governor Lingle called the Legislature into special session on October 24, 2007.^[22]

In preparation, members of the Legislature made trips to Kauai, Maui, and The Big Island to get reactions. On Kauai, the meeting was reasonably calm and respectful, however on Maui the meeting was heated and supporters of Superferry were booed and yelled at.^[23]

On Monday October 29, 2007 the State Senate approved a bill to allow "large capacity ferry vessels" to operate between ports in the Hawaiian Islands while an environmental statement is prepared.^[24]

The House passed the bill on October 31 on a vote of 39-11.^[25] Governor Lingle signed the bill into law on November 6, 2007. ^[26]

[edit] Restarting service

On Wednesday November 14, 2007, Maui Court Judge Cardoza lifted the injunction banning the ferry from sailing to Kahului Harbor consistent with the new law. Hawaii Superferry's CEO John Garibaldi released this statement: "On behalf of Hawaii Superferry's family of employees, we are pleased with the judge's decision today. We are grateful for the support shown by the governor, legislature, and residents of Hawaii and look forward to commencing service soon." ^[27] Superferry restarted service on December 14 beginning daily round trip voyages to Maui.^[28]

[edit] Current service

As of May 2008, Hawaii Superferry operates a daily morning round-trip service between Oahu and Maui, with a second afternoon round-trip on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The demise of Aloha Airlines and record oil prices have caused airfares to rise rapidly causing ferry ridership to increase significantly.^[29]

New CEO Thomas Fargo announced in early May 2008 that Superferry would like to serve Kauai if Kauai residents want the service.^[30]