Huakai in Haiti: Military Rolls off Huakai into Haiti

First HMSHaiti Pictures from Port-au-Prince: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hms-corp/show/ #Huakai #Alakai

Video: Huakai Underway Today

Pictures: Superferry load-out

BY MIKE HOLTZCLAW
January 27, 2010

FORT EUSTIS - The Superferry Huakai was loaded up at Fort Eustis today with equipment and soldiers bound for Haiti and the ongoing earthquake relief effort.

The U.S. Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) will send its 597th Transportation Brigade to Port-au-Prince to deliver humanitarian supplies.

In a press release, the SDDC noted that the Huakai "traditionally only moves passengers," but for this mission the Maritime Administration has given operational control of the vessel to the Military Sealift Command to deliver equipment and cargo as well as military personnel.

HMS Haiti and Never before seen pictures of the Huakai

From Timothy Dick today, founder of HSF:

http://www.hmshaiti.com/

Also, never before seen pictures of the Huakai:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hms-corp/

Video: Current Harbor and Ferry Operations in Haiti:
http://bit.ly/7At07M

Alakai Headed to Haiti Too

From: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100120/BREAKING01/100120032/Alakai+gets+call+for+Haiti+relief+duty

Updated at 12:04 p.m., Wednesday, January 20, 2010
"Alakai gets call for Haiti relief duty" by Advertiser Staff

...U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced today that the Department's Maritime Administration has started preparing Alakai for relief duty in Haiti. The ship will be crewed by civilian mariners. "This ship will help our relief workers on the ground by allowing quick movements of people in and out of Haiti from various staging points," LaHood said in a statement...

From: http://blog.al.com/press-register-business/2010/01/hawaii_superferry_built_at_aus.html

"Hawaii Superferries built at Austal's Mobile shipyard to deliver Haiti relief"
By Kaija Wilkinson al.com January 20, 2010, 10:16AM



Huakai, a catamaran designed and built by Austal USA, has been mobilized along with its sister ship Alakai by MARAD for relief efforts in Haiti. MARAD reposessed the vessels in summer 2009 after Hawaii Superferry Inc. went bankrupt. Two high-speed catamarans built at Austal USA in Mobile for Hawaii Superferry Inc. are headed to Haiti to assist with relief efforts, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced today...

Although no details have been released about how they will be used, the ships may serve as a link between Haiti and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba or Miami, carrying relief supplies and personnel to and from Haiti.

The catamarans can carry nearly 800 tons per voyage, Austal said. They will be crewed by Hornblower Marine Services of Albany, Ind.

Huakai Superferry Headed to Haiti

From: http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20100119_Never-used_Superferry_vessel_mobilized_to_aid_Haiti_relief_effort.html

"Never-used Superferry vessel mobilized to aid Haiti relief effort"
The U.S. Transportation Department obtained the Huakai after Hawaii Superferry shut down
By Nina Wu Jan 19, 2010

The M/V Huakai, the high-speed ferry that never fulfilled its purpose as part of Hawaii Superferry operations last year, will be mobilized for relief duty in Haiti...>>>Full Article>>>