The first ship in the fleet is undergoing sea trails in Mobile Alabama, during this month of March 2007 where it was built. In April it will begin its journey through the Panama Canal towards Hawaii.
The Super Ferry is scheduled to start service in July 2007. Tickets go on sale in May 2007.
When sports clubs travel to tournaments, they can bring their bus, and all of their equipment with them instead of shipping them separately. For a family of four like mine we can load all of our stuff in our vehicle and take it with is, saving a lot of costs for rental vehicles and making it so much easier to travel without lugging suitcases through the airports. You will also have the added ability of bringing family pets on the trips.
Besides all of the above advantages of being able to ship your vehicle and belongings with you the Hawaii Super Ferry will provide additional benefit. As a member of the State Civil Defense Advisory Council I am keenly aware of the issues we face in an emergency. When the hurricane hit Kauai many years ago, there were major delays getting relief equipment and supplies there. Our only modes of transportation were barge and airplane. We currently have no easy way to get vehicles and large quantities of supplies over quick. The Super Ferry will allow us to get disaster relief to another island in a few hours.
The Hawaii Super Ferry will be state of the art and will utilize the newest and best technologies and practices to be protect the environment. They have plans in place to avoid whale collisions, prevent the spread of invasive species. The Hawaii Super Ferry will be a much more fuel-efficient way to transport passengers than jet aircraft.
100% of all waste water will be contained in holding tanks and dumped into the Honolulu sewer system; nothing will be dumped in the ocean.
Many energy saving features will be utilized such as reflective glass on the window to save energy on cooling. All light fixtures will use energy efficient bulbs.
A recent public poll showed that nearly 9 of 10 Hawaii residents were in favor of the Super Ferry. Include me in the 90% of those who are excited about this welcome addition to our islands.
For more information go to the Hawaii Super Ferry website at: http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/
My previous post about the Hawaii Super Ferry: Hawaii Super Ferry is Getting Closer to Reality
The max is: 866 passengers & 282 cars.
They expect to run about half of that.
Randy,
This sounds really cool! We'll have to check it out next time we are over your way.
Aloha,
Lucky :)
Randy-They are complaining that the super ferry might injure the sea life (mainly the humpback whales). The officials that are in charge of the super ferry have implemented many measures (to include a watchman looking for whales) so they dont hit any of the humpbacks. I love ocean life as much as the next guy but come on people.......
I am very happy to say that as I read the newspaper this morning, it says that lawmakers have killed the bill which would have forced someone to do an environmental impact study before launching the ferry. Yahoo! Cant wait to ride it.
janeAnne - It is only traveling between Oahu, Kauai and Maui. In 2009 when the 2nd ship arrives it will travel between, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. That will double up the stops in Maui and add the Big Island. The ship makes the round trip once a day and has about 4 hours of cleaning and maintenance each evening.
From everything I have read and heard, these ships are the state of the art and designed to be environmentally friendly. They will be much more fuel efficient to transport people and gear than airplanes. It will also give us alternatives for response in a natural disaster.