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Water Ways
IN a column at this time last year, I questioned why so few recreational boaters had attended the Hawaiian Maritime Industry Day a week earlier. Enlightening day
ahead for commercial,
casual sailorsAnd even though its name implied it was a conference for commercial ocean users, I pointed out that many of its presentations provided information well-suited for most pleasure-boat sailors.
I concluded that there may have been at least two reasons for those boaters not attending: they didn't think the conference concerned them, or they just hadn't heard about it.
So, this year, instead of reporting on the conference after the fact, here is a preview of it with information supplied by the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in the hope of enticing more boaters to attend.
This year's 10th annual Hawaiian Maritime Industry Day will be held Wednesday in the Mid Pacific Conference Center at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It runs from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Along with the Coast Guard, hosts for this year's event are the Honolulu Propeller Club, Hawaii Ocean Industry and Shipping News magazine, and Pacific Business News.
Admission to the conference is $30 and includes all breakout sessions, an exhibitors' hall, a continental breakfast, a luncheon with keynote speaker Greg Bonann of Baywatch Hawaii and a closing reception.
THE 40 breakout sessions, convention-style presentations, last about 35 minutes. They're scheduled five at a time, requiring attendees to pick their favorites from the five general themes of Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Passenger Vessels, Fishing and the Environment, and General Interest.
Of the 40 planned presentations, there are several that should appeal to recreational boaters and fishermen.
One is the about a potential offshore project involving something called a Very Large Floating Platform (VLFP).
Dr. Craig McDonald of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism will discuss the issues concerning the formation of an international alliance to build and site a demonstration VLFP somewhere in Hawaiian waters.
Another presentation that might be of interest to boaters deals with the latest and best emergency signaling devices.
In a session called, Lost at Sea: How to get Rescuers' Attention, Dr. Robert Yonover of the Rescue Technologies Corp. will evaluate the effectiveness of everything from smoke flares to satellite technology.
An update by Terry O'Halloran of the Hawaii Operational Safety Team (HOST) is another topic boaters should find interesting.
As an organization comprised of volunteers from virtually every ocean user group in Hawaii, HOST promotes safe and ecologically sound maritime operations.
Additionally, numerous vendors of marine products and services will have display booths in an exhibitors' hall where attendees may learn more about them.
It was in this exhibitors' hall last year, near the end of the day, that nearly all of the 300 attendees were able to find time to do some old-fashioned networking during a no-host closing reception. It is sure to be the same this year.
There is very little time left to register but the Coast Guard's Lt. Dan Norton said he will accept registration through Monday at 522-8256.
See you there.
Ray Pendleton is a free-lance writer based in Honolulu.
His column runs Saturdays in the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached by e-mail at raypen@compuserve.com.