AT LEAST 5 Close Approaches to Whales Have Happened

KITV had a good report at http://www.kitv.com/news/18536790/detail.html:

"Superferry Has Close Encounter With Whale"
UPDATED: 10:29 pm HST January 21, 2009

HONOLULU -- The Superferry came close to a humpback whale while on it's morning voyage to Maui. The federal agency charged with overseeing possible whale strikes was alerted by a passenger...

Capt. Adam Parsons said this is only the second time he has come close to a whale since the Superferry began operating...

"February and March is when we see the most whales in our waters and we really want to just remind mariners who are operating on the water keep a sharp lookout. And if they come within 100 yards within a whale to stop and just to be very cautious," said Naomi McIntosh, Marine Mammal Sanctuary manager...

To report vessel collisions with whales to NOAA Fisheries call 1-888-256-9840 or the U.S Coast Guard at 1-800-552-6458.

It is also clear that passengers will need to get picture/s or video of any future situations if at all possible.

As for the comment about only the second time he has come close to a whale, that may be true for Capt. Parsons, but Capt. Campbell of the Alakai also had a similar close approach on 4/11/08, and Capt. Curtis of the Alakai also had similar close approaches on 4/16/08 with one whale, and on 4/22/08 with two whales. (See pages 67-75 of this .pdf, also reminder that the Alakai did not operate during much of the whale season last year.) These are just the 5 instances of close approaches that have been documented and made readily available to the wider public. Are there other instances at other times that have been documented but not published to the wider public?

It is clear that passengers will need to get picture/s or video of any future situations if at all possible.


Aloha, Brad