Hawaii Superferry in the news

[Kmot]

I saw an article in the LA Times this morning about the Hawaii Superferry. I had never heard of it before.

The local eco-terrorists and enviro-whacko's have caused this fantastic new ship to halt service.

Anyway, doing a search I found their webpage. Has photos, videos, deck plans, etc.

http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/default.html

[Hoghappy]

I almost posted something on that today. It was built down here in Mobile. Pretty cool lookin cat! :D

It's been docked indefinitly!

http://www.local6.com/travelgetaways/14003082/detail.html?rss=orlpn&psp=news

Capt. Slick

[RhumbLine]

That's terrible that they can't continue service. The ferry was built at Austal shipyards in Mobile, AL. Their designs are out there on the edge of technology. They are aslo building the new Litoral Combat Ship USS INDEPENDANCE (LCS 2) 127 meter trimaran, quad jet drive, retractable azimuthing bow thruster, RoRo ramp loading, 45 knot sprint speed (too much cool stuff to list :D ). It is designed after a ferry they delivered to Spain a year or so ago. If I remember correctly they are launching it late this year. I wish my modeling skills were better, I'd scratch build this beast. Just a couple of pictures to wet your appetite for the web page(s)

http://www.austal.com

http://austal.com/go/product-information/defence-products/littoral-combat-ship-(lcs)

http://www.austal.com/index.cfm?objectID=6955E09C-A0CC-3C8C-D9FD2E4C71CE8F0E

[steveciambrone]

Environmental terrorists can only complain and stop things and not provide solutions. The people of the islands really need ferry service and to look at the fares it seems quite affordable. Liberal judges are part to blame, stopping one boat in the water when there are thousands of others?

Idiots

Steve

[785boats]

Hi RhumbLine.
I sketched up some drawings some time ago for that ship to join my fleet of stealth warships. The public relations officer at Austal here in Australia gave me a website with a heap of images & views when I asked him for drawings. He said that he couldn't give out drawings because of the secrecy act or national security or some such other ridiculous notion about loosing his job. I'll try & find the site again.
Here's the fleet so far.
Regards,
Paul.

[quicksilver]

Environmental terrorists can only complain and stop things and not provide solutions. The people of the islands really need ferry service and to look at the fares it seems quite affordable. Liberal judges are part to blame, stopping one boat in the water when there are thousands of others?

Idiots

Steve
you know there's always a story behind the big story, as an ecologist I see the protest to be legitimate.
"They were protesting the ferry's failure to obtain an environmental-impact report before launching Hawaii's first interisland ferry service."
"The launch, originally set for Tuesday, was moved up after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that the state should have required an environmental review before the Superferry started service. Three environmental groups have sued, concerned that the vessel could collide with humpback whales, spread invasive species and create long traffic delays.

The environmentalists' attorney, Isaac Hall, said he would seek an injunction today to prevent the Superferry from doing business until environmental studies are completed. Environmental reviews are typically required of projects that use state money and land, such as harbors, and they can take months or years to complete.

Superferry supporters say it is being treated unfairly because other harbor users such as cruise ships didn't have to go through extensive environmental reviews."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003855072_superferry27.html
I dont see anyone saying they want it shut down, but more that they want to go by the book. Stupid liberals and their laws and eco-terrorists lol

[Ghost 2501]

yes the environment should be preserved, however this mob protesting the way they are are kinda taking the :censored: just like how Greenpeace were with the nuclear fuel carriers operated by PNTL

anyone in the right mind would see that the superferry stands the same chance of hitting any marine mammal as a cruise ship or slower ferry.

environmentalism gone mad!

[RhumbLine]

785boats, That is an impressive fleet of naval oddities that you have there, I like it! If you find that web page I would be greatly interested. I have most everything form their regular page, but extra is never a bad thing...well except for the huge ice cream sundae I ate late last night :D While I admire the classic lines of ships and boats of days gone by, the new designs and technology used in tomorrows ships intrigues me.

[AndyKunz]

"The launch, originally set for Tuesday, was moved up after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that the state should have required an environmental review before the Superferry started service. Three environmental groups have sued, concerned that the vessel could collide with humpback whales, spread invasive species and create long traffic delays."

Should have but DIDN'T. Essentially this becomes an ex post facto ruling - the State did not do their job, so we must punish the citizens and those horrible capitalists.

Why are there special rules for this one boat? Probably because some enviro-whacko didn't buy stock in the company early on, or owns stock in another competing company.

It's about MONEY, not about the environment.

Andy

[Hoghappy]

It's about MONEY, not about the environment.

Andy

Ain't it always? :rolleyes:

[785boats]

The greenies stopped the building of a hydro electric power station & dam here in the state of Tasmania some years ago. All power in the state is hydro generated. Industry & people left for the mainland. The economy stagnated for many years. Now it's picking up. Not enough power to supply the grid. So get this. Tasmania now has to import power from the mainland. AND IT'S COAL FIRED. I hope the greenies feel good about themselves.
Now they are trying to stop a wood pulping mill which will support the regrowth forestry industry that needs all the help it can get. Yes we must help the environment, but we must live too.

Anyhow RhumbLine. It's about boats. Can't find the site, but the site you posted has the same images. I really like the x-ray view from underneath in poster No 2. Hope it doesn't hit a whale on it's maiden voyage.
Regards,
Paul.

[quicksilver]

Should have but DIDN'T. Essentially this becomes an ex post facto ruling - the State did not do their job, so we must punish the citizens and those horrible capitalists.

Why are there special rules for this one boat? Probably because some enviro-whacko didn't buy stock in the company early on, or owns stock in another competing company.

It's about MONEY, not about the environment.

Andy
man lots of nice slang being thrown around. There could be ACTUAL legitimate reasons for people being mad. I'm not so angered by the opinions in this thread, but more by the convictions that it must be unjustified. Not too mention saying things, like enviro-wacko is more than a bit inflammatory. I know I'm just a complete nut job, that thinks there can be a common ground for environmentalists and people who could care less. There's no point in trying to debate with people who clearly know the answer. That hippies, are basically investers and them not getting in on the big ferry deal of a life time has ticked them off. lol keep it coming.

[steveciambrone]

One of the reasons stated for the halt in service is the Coast Guard could not ensure the safe passage of the ferry, So enviro-terrorist is not an overstatement. Trouble is environmentalist don't comprimise they just stop, it takes the capitalist to solve the problems, and make a nice profit also.

There are enviro-terrorist out there, like the idiots who torched a bunch of SUVs a few years ago. Can't get a family of six in a Honda hybrid.

Thanks
Steve

[AndyKunz]

Don't forget - they think a family of 6 is a bad thing, too. We have 7 kids - we took two vehicles everywhere for the past 12 years!

Andy

[Shaun Hendricks]

Stereotypes are bad things when used incorrectly.

It's entirely possible to be conservative in your political and social views and yet still be pro-environment.

The real issue is that the 'environmental' movement, in the large part, has been hijacked for other purposes. The "environment" has become a tool by these people to stop capitalism (corporate interests) and block governments from providing for people because these hi-jackers don't like the government. It's a socialist/communist ideology driving legal battles, threats, and apparently in this case an actually beneficial environmental transportation mode because a company is trying to make a profit in a capitalist system. Heaven forbid! Penn & Teller have a show on this point, it's funny as heck.

So, separate the BS from the actual issues. Quicksilver has tried, but I think there's still a hidden agenda there being missed, in fact it's pretty plain.

A company does not have to file an environmental impact report to operate a ship, at least not in this country unless the state requires it. It does if it intends to haul hazardous materials with the craft. Trucks might be carrying hazardous waste on the ferry, but that should be handled by the trucking companies EIR's, not the ferry's as they can't control what might be in someone's trunk. So again, I'm unsure of why the EIR is necessary here. It's a modern, fuel efficient, jet drive (won't put chop marks on those poor whale backs), fairly shallow draft at speed ship...

So if an EIR is required here, it demonstrates how BAD the system has gotten that a simple ship ferry can be grounded because a company intends to operate a beneficial ship. True environmentalists should be cheering, this is less diesel fuel being pumped into the air by puddle jumper jets that can be 20+ years old running half hour flights by the hundreds in a day... Eventually, the thing could be powered by hydrogen, wouldn't that be just ducky for the environment!

I am an environmentalist, a REAL environmentalist, but that also includes humans as part of the environment. All those that think humans are unnatural and should be removed from nature can start with themselves, there are thousands of ways to accomplish it in a natural fashion. Darwin at work... go figure. :rolleyes:

Companies will be environmentally friendly without being forced if you can show good economic sense of it. BP uses their environmental adventures for advertisement purposes. That doesn't change that they still make a primary product that pumps all sorts of nasty things into the air when used properly... It just means they are trying. As will any decent company. It's just good business.

[785boats]

[QUOTE=Shaun Hendricks]Stereotypes are bad things when used incorrectly.

Well said Shaun. Eloquent, concise & to the point. Were you on the debating team at school ? :D
Paul.

[W.L Upshaw]

Very Well said Shaun
To a degree I am enviromentally minded, I am one of the few in my neighborhood that recycles, and I take all of my dead batteries to the proper place for disposal/recycling. But then I still drive my van and I still breath the air the the eco terrorist types think belongs to only them.
BTW, the lawn and plants that provide the air that you breath, deserve the water it takes to keep them alive.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I suppose they may not haven't considered a frog in someone's truck might take advantage of a change of location... :o

[quicksilver]

I know this is a late response, but honestly I had been afraid to look, thinking I had most likely been lynched for my statements. Mr. Hendricks, very well said. I personally got a bit mad at the level of stereotyping of environmentalists.

The way I look at it, environmentalism can be just like a religion or political stance, enviro-terrorists are like fundamentalist religious fanatics or die hard conservatives or anarchists.

Just remember when someone like green peace or other environmentalists attack ships or destroy humvees, they do not represent the whole. Like Mr. Hendricks I also include humans as part of the environment, if you dont, you're really kidding yourself. I'll leave it at that.

[herrmill]

To revive an old thread...

Hawaii High Speed Ferry Reprieve (http://www.mauinews.com/news/2007/11/6/01govs1106.h)

Considering what it used to be like in those heady pre-9-11 days when one could purchase inter-island air tickets from any ATM, this should make life a bit easier for the locals when it comes to travel!

Chuck

[Kmot]

Full speed ahead! Damn the whales! :D

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I think they have the safety of the whales covered...

Its inter-Island competiton that seems to be the biggest problem.

Among the changes are a ban on transporting rocks, soil, dirt or dead coral (with limited exceptions where Department of Agriculture permits are issued).

This prohibition would head off what Wynhoff called an “unfortunate incident,” when three pickup trucks of rocks were loaded on Maui for transport to Oahu.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement intercepted the rocks and confiscated the trucks. It was suspected that the rocks were destined to line an imu.
...
...
...These restrictions will address claims that Oahu city dwellers will flood the Neighbor Islands to plunder its rocks, shellfish and wild pigs.


:p