HI Superferry: Counts for Both Runs for 5/9/08

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21400600@N03/sets/72157604971976058/

Vessel scheduled to arrive at 9:30am. Vessel came in at 9:37am, was offloading by 9:49am.

Vessel would have encountered 11 ft wind waves in Kaiwi or 12 ft wind waves in Pailolo this morning.

Operations appear to have changed substantially. Offloading was fast and in two lanes, therefore only a close estimate count could be taken.

Offloading: est. 120 vehicles, est. 200 to 240 people, and 8 motorcycles. Vehicles offloaded in two stages, indicating both decks were used. The vehicle count includes 2 large semis with large trailers, 1 other small container truck, 3 other large commercial trucks including at least 1 refrigerated truck, 1 FedEx truck, and 1 truck with a horse trailer. Did not notice indication of significant Roberts activity today, a rough day in the channels. Fuel costs were likely covered with this run from Oahu.

Onloading: est. 75 vehicles, est. 150 people, and 2 motorcycles. Vehicles onloading appeared to be also using both decks, probably to make room for the large trucks on the bottom deck loading last. The vehicle count includes 2 large semis with large trailers, 3 other large commercial trucks including at least 1 refrigerated truck, 1 FedEx truck, and 1 tow truck towing a car onboard. Fuel costs alone were NOT likely covered with this run from Maui to Oahu.

Spoke with Hawaiian "Maka'ala" John at harbor again this morning. He pointed out all of the algae coming ashore most days now. He said the algae used to wash ashore only infrequently. He said he thinks it's related to the last report he gave.
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Evening run: Came in early a little before 6:00pm because it left Honolulu early before 3:00pm.

Report is from long-time friend onboard the vessel, former senior hotel manager.

Offloading: est. 60 vehicles, est. 120 people. No commercial vehicles seen by passenger. No indication of group 'overnighter' travel company. Passenger reports crossing the channel was rough and some passengers did get seasick.

For Onloading figures relying upon a Maui Tomorrow rep. and a reporter she spoke with plus a few more I counted later onloading.

Onloading: est. less than 60 vehicles. People not counted. No commercial vehicles seen.

Neither leg of evening run covered even fuel costs.

MPD told the Maui Tomorrow rep. (they had noticed a lot of DoD base stickers on the cars coming from Oahu earlier today and in prior days) that it looked to them like many military or civil service personnel from Oahu taking the ferry for a few days vacation. Makes sense given new leadership.

Aloha, Brad