U.S. Army Environmental Command seeking Comments on JHSV's in Guam, Hawaii, San Diego and Seattle

From: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20100204/NEWS01/2040302/Guam-may-host-Army-fast-ships

"Guam may host Army fast ships"
By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno • Pacific Daily News • February 4, 2010

Guam is one of several areas being considered as a station for up to a dozen high-speed catamaran-style military ships each capable of transporting more than 300 people per ship, according to an Army Environmental Command announcement.

Hawaii, San Diego and Seattle are also being considered, according to the command's announcement, which was issued as an advertisement in the Pacific Daily News to solicit public comments.

A cooperative effort between the Navy and the Army, the Joint High Speed Vehicles, or JHSVs will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, vehicles and equipment, according to an earlier Defense Department announcement of the program on defenselink.mil.

"JHSVs will be capable of transporting 700 short tons (within) 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank," according to the Defense Department.

These ships all give commanders the ability to roll on a company with full gear and equipment, or roll on a full infantry battalion if used only as a troop transport, haul it intra-theater distances, then move their shallow draft safely into austere ports to roll them off, according www.defenseindustrydaily.com.

Initial uses of the high-speed vessels have led to a $1.6 billion program called the Joint High Speed Vessel, which could involve up to 10 ships, according to defenseinustrydaily.com.

The Army Environmental Command notice for public comment says up to 12 Joint High Speed Vessels will be stationed.

TO COMMENT

The U.S. Army Environmental Command welcomes public comments on the plan. E-mail comments to the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command, 5179 Hoadley Road, ATTN: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010.

You can also call (410) 436-2556; (410) 436-1693; or e-mail APGR-USAECNEPA@conus.army.mil.

Alaka'i headed to Guam?...What about the second Hull A-616?

There are a lot of reports now on this matter, but the following one was one of the more interesting ones yesterday:

See video at: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/41413552.html
By Gina Mangieri Mar 17, 2009

The Hawaii Superferry has released more than 230 employees and contractors, and sources say the Alakai will likely be leaving the islands.

Several sources confirm the ship owners are looking for a new home for the first vessel, eyeing places including Guam...

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the special law called Act 2 that overturned an injunction against Maui service without an environmental impact statement. As for the vessel being rerouted to Kauai instead, opponents there still say they'd stand in the way as they did in 2007.

Richard Hoeppner a Kauai Superferry Opponent said, "If you try to come back, you're going to see demonstrations, it's going to make August 27th (2007) look like a party."

...Meanwhile external auditors poured over company financials at headquarters.

The U.S. Maritime Administration that guaranteed funding for two superferry vessels told KHON2: "We are, of course, monitoring the situation closely, and, at the moment, the company is current on its debt service."

...Whether the second ship current assigned elsewhere could make a go of it here remains up in the air. That ship does not need the ramps that triggered the environmental hurdles.

The ramps were not the only thing that triggered the EIS. HSF Hull A-616 would not be able to escape an EIS needing to be done as a condition precedent to operations. You can send that idea back to the drawing board.

Aloha, Brad