My additions are added in red.
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:17:31 -0500
Subject: Notes of HSF Oversight Task Force
Hawaii Superferry Oversight Task Force Meeting 1/10/08
[...] Dept of Ag rep Domingo Cravalho reported on their monitoring. Since DOA got no additional funds, they had to stagger schedules of staff to do the early morning monitoring on Oahu. They also did trainings with HSF staff on several islands. They have a hotline to report invasive species: 643-7378 (643-PEST). He handed out a powerpoint and photos - FOLKS SHOULD REQUEST THIS.
DOA monitored 15 round trips O'ahu to Maui:
O'ahu to Maui leg: Avg. = 3.1 passengers/vehicle
2813 passengers / 15 trips = 187.5 avg. per trip
901 vehicles / 15 trips = 60 avg. per trip
14 instances - 39 dead bees (no mites detected)
6 instances of seeds
1 instance - 50 orchids without certification
1 case leaf litter
1 case fishing nets
Maui to Oahu leg: Avg. = 3.3 passengers/vehicle
2440 passangers / 15 trips = 163 avg. per trip
736 vehicles / 15 trips = 49 avg. per trip
9 instances - 67 bees (no mites detected)
7 cases of seeds
2 cases of uncertified plants (lavender and coconut)
5 instances - 9 vehicles with excessive mud
2 instances - 2 vehicles with sand and soil
DOCARE (DLNR) - Randy Awo reported that on 1/10/08, 2 cars intercepted with opihi, (One car had 5 bags of opihi hidden in a cooler under some other stuff.). 1 car with ogo.....Awo suggested that all govt enforcement officers be given power to do random searches/inspections of passengers and cars. OTF voted to recommend legislation that grants enforcement including DOCARE, DOA, etc to do searches and increase funding for these programs. Garibaldi and OHalloran both looked at each other and made funny faces....
OHalloran reported that from 12/13/07 to 1/6/08 HSF made 21 RT Oahu to Maui.
Oahu to Maui leg averaged 167 passengers and 53 vehicles. = 3.15 passengers/vehicle
Maui to Oahu leg averaged 157 passengers and 47 vehicles. = 3.34 passengers/vehicle
They sailed south of Molokai on four out of the 12 voyages in 2008.
On Oahu they found 4 infractions in 2007 and 1 in 2008
On Maui they found 22 infractions in 2007 and 12 in 2008
HNL terminal:
2 instances of plants without cert.
2 instances of fishing nets
2 instances of declared plants
3 instances of declared fruits
2 instances of declared seeds
1 instance of 3 dead bees
2 instances of opihi
3 instances of cut wood
Maui terminal:
13 instances of muddy cars
4 instances of plants w/o cert.
1 instance of fishing net
2 instances of rock, sand dirt
11 instances of declared plants
53 instances of declared fruit
Other notes...OTF discussed possibility of having meetings on neighbor islands. Perhaps folks on Maui would want to request this.
U.S. Coast Guard rep was asked the cost to the public (money and human resources) expended by the USCG for the extraordinary mobilization of force against the community to protect a private company. The rep answered he would not give out any "security sensitive" information.
That is NOT security sensitive information; it is just politically embarassing information. The answer to that question should be public information.
Another question that came to mind (of the observer): Would HSF have a different procedure for checking in military personnel and equipment?
The answer to that question is HSF personnel should be using a Geiger counter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geiger_counter for detection to protect the long-term value of the vessel.
[More from the report to be kept confidential.]
Some quick but accurate calculations I have done. It takes more than a quarter capacity of this vessel to cover it's fuel expenses (Actually, 110 vehicles and 230 passengers per trip to cover fuel expenses). This is due to the design being chosen of 4 diesel jet engines for this ferry (required for its non-commercial purposes). It takes slightly more than 3/4 capacity of this vessel to cover all of its expenses (variable and fixed). That leaves less than the top quarter of capacity to actually make money as a commercial venture alone.
That design business model did not leave enough flexibility to deal with uncontrollable external variables such as wind, swells, prevalent motion sickness, and deficient barge design. In total this vessel has averaged loads that are less than a quarter of its capacity, meaning most trips have cost the company even more money than if the trips were not done at all.
The company could continue operating for a year and at these load levels lose $30 million a year, or they could try to lease the ship to the Navy after the HSV-2 Swift is returned to Incat in July, and the new lease proposal is concluded. The Swift has been leased by the Navy for $21 million a year and the Navy had to pay for the fuel. The $21 million would be enough for the owners of this vessel to cover their costs and make some money. The federal government can afford to pay money it doesn't have for use of this vessel, whereas individuals in Hawaii cannot afford to pay their hard earned real money in significant numbers for something they don't need.
Aloha, Brad
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