GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pacific Shipyard Industry workers brought materials aboard the newest Young Brothers barge yesterday.
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Young Brothers welcomes new barge
The first of Young Brothers Ltd.'s four new barges has arrived in Hawaii.
The Ho'omaka Hou, or "New Beginning" barge, will begin twice-weekly service between Honolulu and Nawiliwili harbors on Thursday, the interisland shipper said.
The barge is part of a 10-year, $186 million plan announced last year to improve Young Brothers' equipment and infrastructure. In October, the state Public Utilities Commission approved a 7.5 percent rate increase to help pay for the investments.
The 340-foot-long barge can carry up to 40 percent more than Young Brothers' current primary barge size, the company said. The larger barge reduces the need for tandem towing, which expedites cargo shipment and delivery. The barge will operate at a speed of nine nautical miles per hour.
The shipper said the expansion is needed to meet present and future cargo demand. Young Bros. said upon the completion of its 10-year plan, its barge fleet will be reduced from a current average of 26 years to seven years by 2015.