Hawaii Superferry

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Hawaii Superferry has plans for an interisland ferry service between the major islands of Hawaii. Superferry's first vessel is planned to be in Hawai'i by early 2007, put it through several months of sea trials and begin regular service between Honolulu and Maui and Kaua'i by April 2007. The start of service to Kawaihae on the Big Island has been delayed until at least 2009, when the state finishes harbor changes there and the company's second vessel is delivered to Hawai'i.[1]

Hawaii Superferry will use "semi SWATH" type catamarans built by Austal Ships of Mobile, Alabama. Three ships are envisioned in the planning. The ports that will be used by the Superferry are the Pier 19 ferry terminal near downtown Honolulu, Kahului on Maui, Nawiliwili on Kauai, and Kawaihae on Big Island.

According to Hawaii SuperFerry, the catamarans "will be the most energy-efficient way to travel the islands and the most eco-friendly ferries ever built including clean technologies like zero wastewater discharge, ultra-low emissions engines, no ballast tanks, and non-toxic bottom paint to ensure marine organisms are not harmed.

The four-deck ships will have a capacity of 900 people and approximately 250 cars, trucks and buses on two vehicle decks."

In Public Utilities Commission hearings being held throughout the islands during November 2004, concerns were aired about the adequacies of present harbor facilities, potential collisions with whales, the transfer of weedy alien plant species among the islands as well as anticipation of the new service.

In the 2005 legislative session, Senate Bill 1785, would have required Hawaii Superferry to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). CEO John Garibaldi says that, in preparing an EIS, "The delay would cause investors to pull their support, effectively sinking the effort to bring ferries back to Hawaii." As of March 2, the Senate Transportation and Government Operations Committee has voted to have SB 1785 killed in committee.

On March 15, 2005, a categorical exclusion issued by the federal Maritime Administration exempted the Hawaii Superferry project from federal environmental laws.

On March 21, 2005, Maui Tomorrow, the Sierra Club and the Kahului Harbor Coalition sought an injunction to force the state to prepare an environmental assessment before it agrees to use Kahului Harbor for the Hawaii Superferry. The lawsuit was filed in Maui Circuit Court. The Hawaii Sierra Club wanted to know how, in particular, cars would be transferred from one island to another, and how the state planned to prevent the movement of invasive species between islands.

In April 2005, the Hawaii State Senate Ways and Means Committee deleted $40 million intended to improve harbors because of funding concerns. The $40 million is a necessity for the Hawaii Superferry. However, lawmakers later replaced the money, splitting the sum in half and arranging pay-out over two years to allow review next session.

In August 2005, a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of the Sierra Club, the Friends of Haleakala National Park, Maui Tomorrow Foundation Inc. and the Kahului Harbor Coalition. According to the suit, Hawaii Superferry should be required to conduct an environmental assessment because of its potential impact on various islands.

On September 29, 2005, U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor dismissed a lawsuit filed by three environmental groups in August of 2005 seeking a full environmental impact statement for a proposed interisland ferry system. Hawaii Superferry Inc. can now proceed with its plans to operate its vessels in Hawaii waters in early 2007.[2]

In an October 24, 2005 Honolulu Advertiser article about a Memorandum of agreement between the State of Hawaii and Hawaii Superferry signed on September 7:

"Hawaii Superferry has agreed to pay the state at least $2.3 million a year for the right to operate in four Hawai'i harbors when it begins operations in April 2007. For its part, the state will provide $40 million in new harbor equipment that will be used primarily by Superferry vessels."
"....Under the financial terms of the agreement, Hawaii Superferry promises to pay the state $2 for every passenger, $4 for every private vehicle and $20 for every commercial vehicle it transports between the islands, or a minimum of $2.3 million per year in its first three years of operation. The company also will pay regular dockage fees charged to other commercial vessels." [3]</p>

On October 28, 2005, Hawaii Superferry announced that it has completed a crucial part of its plan, securing more than $210 million of needed financing. Company officials signed documents with investors and the federal government in Washington, enabling the company to move forward with the project, said Susan Clark, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Maritime Administration. The company said it secured a $140 million federally-guaranteed loan from ABN-Amro Bank and $71 million in equity financing from an investor group led by the private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Co. [4]

Contents

External Links

Fares

Finances

Freight

Harbor improvements needed.

Maui concerns

Job creation.

Whales

PUC hearings

Lawsuit

2005 Legislature

Superferry in trouble?

2006 Hawaii State Legislature

2007 Hawaii State Legislature

Test launching in Mobile, AL

Superferry arrival, testing and preview in Hawaii

Aug 2007: Supreme Court => EIS needed for Kahului Harbor facilities

September 2007

October 2007

2004 misc

2005 misc

2006 misc

2007 misc

2008

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