Honolulu Advertiser News

According to a June 24 report from Honoluluadvertiser.com, Hawaii Superferry has asked to abandon its two high-speed catamarans to creditors because of the significant cost of maintaining the vessels as the company moves through bankruptcy. MARAD, which guaranteed construction loans for the catamarans; Austal USA, the Alabama shipbuilder that built the vessels; and the state of Hawaii, which provided harbor improvements, are secured creditors with mortgage rights. MARAD, which holds first priority on the mortgages and is owed $135.7m, would likely take possession of the catamarans for charter if the bankruptcy court approves Superferry's request. Austal USA, which holds the second mortgage, announced last week that it is writing off the $22.9m it is owed for construction loans.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today its Annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard’s Fourteenth District will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Honoring local Coast Guard members who protect coastline shores from the Hawaiian Islands to Guam, the gala’s Chairman is Mr. Lee Webber, publisher and president of the Honolulu Advertiser; the Master of Ceremonies will be Mr. Michael Perry, a recognized name in Hawaiian broadcast history; and the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker will be former Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta.

According to a report from the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii’s state Department of Transportation plans to spend $414,284 for immediate repairs to the Hawaii Superferry barge at Kahului Harbor to prevent a "potential disastrous and life-threatening" leak. (Source: The Honolulu Advertiser)

According to reports, the U.S. Coast Guard said today that it has dispatched one of its cutters to Nawiliwili Harbor, where protesters have blocked the arrival of the Hawaii Superferry at Kaua'i. A Coast Guard spokesman said the Coast Guard also has sent a 25-ft. inflatable boat to respond to protesters. The Hawaii Superferry's 350-ft. vessel the Alakai was approaching the harbor when it was turned away by the Coast Guard due to hundreds of protesters at the site. About 500 passengers remain stranded on the Alakai, which embarked on its maiden voyage from Honolulu to Kahului earlier today. Source: Honolulu Advertiser

According to an AP report, if a Hawaii group has its way, retired Navy ships -- often used as museums, for training purposes or simply as scrap metal -- may have a new lease on life: as homeless shelters. The 642-ft destroyer tender Acadia was built in 1981 and sailed around the world several times with a crew of 1,500 before it was decommissioned in 1994. In January, Navy officials decided to dispose of, sell off or give away the vessel, which is docked at Pearl Harbor. Citing Hawaii's relatively tight land resources, a director of the Victory Ohana Prison Fellowship reportedly told The Honolulu Advertiser that Hawaii has to think outside of the box. A coalition of called the Acadia Acquisition Committee is reportedly negotiating with the state for a place to put the ship.

The Coast Guard is enforcing a previously announced security zone around the Hawaii Superferry that extends 100 yards whether it is under way or at anchor. Violations of the security zone are a federal offense and may result in civil penalties; fines of up to $32,500 per violation, where each additional day of a violation is a separate violation, or criminal penalties including imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000, seizure and forfeiture of the vessel, and other administrative sanctions authorized by law, the Coast Guard said in a statement. Sunday night, protestors on Kaua'i delayed the arrival of the Hawaii Superferry. Source: Honolulu Advertiser

A 12-year Navy program to develop six minisubs for commando missions has been canceled after a $446m investment, leaving the one and only sub at Pearl Harbor with an uncertain future, the Honolulu Advertiser reported. With an original estimate that a single sub would cost about $80m, the price tag for the one vessel that was delivered is $366m above projections. The 65-foot Advanced SEAL Delivery System, or ASDS, was heralded as a "transformational leap ahead" and was intended to deliver commandos dry and rested to a point of departure — rather than in the current underwater vehicles that are open to bone-chilling cold water and require the use of scuba gear.