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Superferry can
save the day

With all of the recent public discussions regarding hurricane preparedness and evacuation procedures, I can't help thinking that the proposed Hawaii Superferry will be a major asset once it is in operation.

Imagine having a 300-foot vessel that will have the ability to carry some 900 passengers and 250 cars, trucks, buses, or emergency vehicles from island to island in a matter of just a few hours.

People at the most risk, such as infants, hospital patients or the elderly, could be evacuated from whichever island was most threatened. And, in the aftermath of the storm, large amounts of resources could be quickly brought to where they were needed most.

It's therefore encouraging to learn that the Hawaii Superferry is a step closer to reality with support from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

One of the Superferry's major downsides, detractors claimed, would be its unmitigated threat to our winter whale population.

But, to the contrary, the advisory council -- which is made up of 15 non-government and 16 government representatives -- found that the Superferry's operators have developed acceptable procedures for avoiding vessel-whale collisions.

"The council members recognize that no policy will guarantee that a vessel will not interact directly with a whale," council chair Terry O'Halloran said. "However we felt that these measures represent the best that can be done to avoid whales with the current available technology."

And Jeff Walters, the sanctuary's co-manager with the Department of Land and Natural Resources added that except when it's absolutely necessary for public safety, Hawaii Superferry has made a commitment to avoid going through the sanctuary during the whale season.

"(And) even when they must transit through it, such as when sea conditions make it unsafe to transit across the north side of Molokai, the ship will avoid our most precious habitat around southwest Maui," Walters said.

The Hawaii Superferry will also increase its staffing during whale season so as to have more of the crew on the lookout for the animals, and they will be using state-of-the-art observation equipment.

This will include imaged-stabilized and night vision binoculars, eye-safe laser range/bearing finders, digital video cameras, forward-looking sonar and X-band radar.

The protective measures proposed by Hawaii Superferry involve not only superior operational procedures, but vessel design as well. Due to its twin-hull catamaran design, the vessel projects a much smaller below-the-waterline cross section than a similar 300-foot monohull tanker, container, or cruise ship, which reduces the chances of a collision.

Also, the vessel has no propellers (it has water-jets), which will prevent lacerations if some accidental contact is ever made with a whale.

All things considered, with the line-up of hurricanes off to our east, don't you wish the Hawaii Superferry were in operation right now?