Pacific Marine
The Pentagon backed Pacific Marine & Supply's
development of the Slice ship, but the Honolulu-based company
also sees civilian uses for the vessel, including
ferry service and oceanographic work.

---

Slice ship
makes public debut

Pacific Marine floats
yet another innovative design

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

As it prepared to show off its new $15 million Slice ship today, Pacific Marine & Supply Co. said it is looking into commercial uses for the ship, including interisland ferry service in Hawaii.

Steven Loui, president of the Honolulu company, said he is talking to the state about restoring the Maui to Molokai ferry service and expects to submit a proposal early next year. That could involve Slice or two existing hydrofoil vessels owned by Pacific Marine.

The state Legislature has authorized a $100,000 subsidy for the ferry if Maui County matches that, Loui said.

"Another high prospect is for a ferry from Dana Point or San Diego to Catalina Island (off California)," he said. "It's a heavily traveled route from Los Angeles and there is demand for fast service from more southern ports."

The 105-foot-long Slice reached 31 knots (35 mph) in sea trials.

Loui said he is also talking to businessmen about using Slice for a ferry from Boston to Nantucket Island, and from New York City to Atlantic City. The Lynn Canal in southeastern Alaska is another possibility, he said.

Two key political backers of the Slice -- Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who secured the federal funding to design and develop the new ship, and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- were to take a ride on the ship today.

They were to be joined by Admiral Paul Gaffney of the Office of Naval Research, which oversaw development for the Navy in a public/private partnership.

"We believe the Slice technology is well-suited for an inter-island ferry, or as an oceanographic research vessel for the University of Hawaii," Loui said. "We hope to continue building Slice ships here in Hawaii for export worldwide."

He said the company's Honolulu Shipyard Inc. facility can manufacture one Slice vessel a year right now but if the orders come in "we would probably gear-up to two a year."

That would result in training 20 to 30 more shipbuilders, he said.

One year ago, Pacific Marine launched the Slice prototype with a goal to reach 30 knots. Slice dips 14 feet under the water, moving on four pods, and is designed more for larger harbors and trips between islands. Slice can carry 300 passengers.

Loui said Slice was designed, built and tested in less than four years at a cost of $14.5 million which makes it one of the fastest, least expensive, advanced-craft development programs ever conducted by the Office of Naval Research. Potential military uses for Slice include as a missile launch pad, patrol boat, test-range support craft, helicopter support, and search and rescue.

Lockheed Martin Corp. retains the rights to the military and government market and has assigned commercial rights for the patented Slice technology to Pacific Marine. Loui has the option to buy the Slice prototype and put it out for a ferry trial.