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.

Report: Navy's Joint High Speed Vessel at risk in combat

From: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/report_navys_joint_high_speed.html

"Report: Navy's Joint High Speed Vessel at risk in combat"
By Sean Reilly January 30, 2010

WASHINGTON -- As the Navy ramps up production of the Joint High Speed Vessel, the Pentagon's chief weapon tester is warning that the low-slung cargo ship has little or no chance of surviving an enemy attack.

Manufactured by Austal USA's Mobile shipyard and modeled on a commercial ferry, the vessel "is not designed or expected to be survivable against weapons effects encountered in combat missions," according to the latest annual review by J. Michael Gilmore, director of operational test and evaluation at the Defense Department.

In a Friday statement, Navy spokeswoman Monica McCoy said the vessel is not designed to operate in uncontrolled environments and thus "does not require the survivability and ability to sustain damage like a surface combatant" ship...>>>Rest of Article>>>

We had this conversation before with regard to aluminium, burn, and things like white phosphorus...

Austal awarded $204 million to build 2nd and 3rd JHSV's

Announced the day after the Huakai is used for the first time...by the military. Is that $204 million for both or for each? Or for both just to get 'em started? Either way quite a bit different price from the 1st one...

CONTRACTS
NAVY
Austal USA, Mobile Ala., is being awarded a $204,238,728 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2217) to exercise options for Ships 2 and 3 of the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program. The JHSV will provide high speed, shallow draft transportation capability to support the intra-theater maneuver of personnel, supplies, and equipment for the Navy, Marine Corps and Army. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to be completed by July 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

From: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/austal_awarded_204_million_to.html

"Austal awarded $204 million to build second, third Joint High Speed Vessel"
By Kaija Wilkinson January 28, 2010, 4:22PM

MOBILE, Ala. -- The U.S. Navy has awarded $204.2 million to Mobile's Austal USA shipyard for the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, part of a potential 10-vessel, $1.6 billion contract Austal landed in November 2008, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, announced today.

The funding will allow for construction of the second and third vessels, high-speed transport ferries that will be used by both the U.S. Army and Navy, according to Shelby's office.

Austal began work on the first JHSV in December...

(For a complete report, read Friday's Press-Register.)

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.

Obama Preparing to Make a Mistake with HMS Haiti?

From gallupnews - Americans Lean Against Letting More Haitians Into U.S.: http://bit.ly/7UkFvd counter to what #Obama intends with #HMSHaiti?

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>>>

Can't frickin' believe we have to keep repeating these things!

From: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100118/BREAKING01/100118067/Governor+says+city+needs+to+revise+its+financial+plan+for+rail+project

"Governor says city needs to revise its financial plan for rail project"
Updated at 4:02 p.m., Monday, January 18, 2010

...GOVERNOR LINDA LINGLE OPENING REMARKS

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS – HONOLULU CHAPTER

PRESENTATION ON HONOLULU RAIL TRANSIT

Monday, January 18, 2010...

Re: "The Superferry did not use one dollar of public funding. We had reimbursable general obligation bonds that were paid for, and will be paid for, by the people who use the harbors. There's not one dollar of direct tax funding that ever went to Superferry or was pledged to Superferry or will be used for Superferry in the future."

WRONG! The Superferry DID use public funding beyond the general obligation bonds. Beyond the bonded money there was all of the money spent to fix the barge at Kahului harbor. There was all of the money spent on the tug boat service daily to hold the barge to the Kahului pier when the ferry came in. There was all of the money spent for extra DLNR security when the ferry first started operating and then continuing for inspections. There was all of the money spent to pay for the Act 2 Special Session. There was all of the legal fees of the Attorney General in this case. There are all of the legal fees of the continuing bankruptcy proceedings.

Re: "In addition, there was never a requirement for an EIS for the Superferry until it was challenged and went to the State Supreme Court and then the Supreme Court made the ruling. The Superferry was treated the way every other ocean-related project was treated whether it was Matson, NCL, Young Brothers or anyone else using our oceans. It was treated the same way, our Administration made the same decision, it's just that the Supreme Court changed the law with their decision."

WRONG AGAIN! You are one hard-headed, obstinate politician! The EIS requirement existed all along, before the Supreme Court even made their first ruling on this. The Superferry was not treated the same as the other harbor users. Those harbor users have had to do EIS's for similar projects. The Supreme Court never changed the law. In fact, it was your Attorney General who wrote the flawed new law Act 2 and your Administration who lobbied the new law through the Legislature. The underlying HEPA law never changed. The Supreme Court never changed the law.

Still Sittin' There...

From: http://connect.hawaiinewsnow.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=9401236&item_index=23&all=1&sort=NULL

Click on image to enlarge.

Hawaii Super Ferry sighting
Full Description:
This is both of the Hawaii Super Ferries sitting here in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. I am in the Navy and just transferred to Norfolk from Pearl Harbor.
By: OS2(SW) Jon P Florez, US Navy

GD Austal May Break Up LCS Team

From: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4447501

"GD May Break Up LCS Team"

By Christopher P. Cavas
Published: 11 January 2010

The partnership between General Dynamics and Austal USA that has produced one of the two contenders for the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is preparing to break up - a reaction to the Navy's increased push for multiple layers of competition in the program.

The move is expected to position GD to build further LCS ships in one of its own shipyards, regardless of the outcome when, later this year, the Navy chooses between the GD LCS design and one from a Lockheed Martin-led team.

GD, through its Bath Iron Works subsidiary, is the prime contractor on the LCS bid, allied with shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The partnership, formed to compete for the 2004 LCS program, saw Bath, with more than a century of experience building naval ships, overseeing relative newcomer Austal USA, a subsidiary of Australia's Austal shipbuilding company. GD's LCS proposal is based on an all-aluminum commercial ferry design from Austal.

All along, GD has planned to expand LCS construction to one of its own shipyards - Bath's yard in Maine or the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) facility in San Diego - whenever LCS production ramped up. The Navy had planned to buy unspecified numbers of each team's LCS, but in September the service changed its acquisition strategy to a single-design downselect - a decision expected to come in late spring or early summer.

But with the single-design switch, the Navy also now wants a second-supplier shipyard that can't be associated with the primary builder. That would mean that, should the Navy choose GD's LCS, the company's shipyards would be excluded from bidding to become the second shipyard. As a result, GD and Austal USA are prepared to split up their partnership.

No final decisions have been made, as the companies are waiting to see the Navy's latest Request for Proposals (RfP), expected to be released in mid-January. The RfP already has been delayed several weeks to allow the Navy to react to industry responses from a preliminary RfP issued last fall.

It is not clear what effect the shipyard breakup would have on GD's Advanced Information Systems (AIS) division, which designed the combat system for the ships.

Officials from General Dynamics, Austal USA and the Navy declined to comment on the story, citing its speculative or preliminary nature. >>>Rest of article>>>

The Coast Guard's Official 'Line' on the Superferry

From pages 16-19: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/docs/Summer%202008%20Proceedings%20Info%20Share%20special%20section.pdf

From: http://cgmarinesafety.blogspot.com/2009/12/hawaii-superferryinformation-sharing.html

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

"The Hawaii Superferry—information sharing leads to operational success"

Posted by USCG Proceedings of the MSSC

Excerpt from U.S. Coast Guard “Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council” magazine. By CAPT Vince Atkins, former commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, and ENS Meghan Hough, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.

Hawaii Superferry (HSF) came to Hawaii to start a high-speed ferry service between the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. The Superferry vessel, the Alakai, is a 350-foot high-speed catamaran designed to carry 866 passengers and 282 vehicles.

A Hostile Operating Environment

Citizens and environmental groups opposed to this new service voiced several concerns, citing Alakai’s lack of an environmental impact study, the possibility of increased traffic congestion, and the potential for introducing invasive species and harming marine life.

Alakai’s initial operations were greeted by an estimated 300 protestors in Kauai, endangering public safety at sea and ashore...

Unique Challenges...

Achieving Interagency Alignment...

Execution of the Operation...

For more information:
Full article and “Focus on Safety” edition of USCG Proceedings is available at www.uscg.mil/proceedings. Click on “archives” and then “2008 Vol. 65, Number 2," pp. 16-19 (Summer 2008).

Constant missteps such as these...

Still got the webbots going, waiting for news on the bankruptcy, and this came in:

From: http://volcanicash.honadvblogs.com/2009/12/07/let-the-competence-begin/

"...Constant missteps such as these — not to mention grand-scale blunders like the Hawaii Superferry — are shaping up as a sad legacy for an administration that started out with such high hopes of effecting historic change." Tags: economy, Linda Lingle

Their current blunder gaining steam is unnecessarily building a bike path ON Wailua Beach, that State DOT Director Brennon Morioka is apparently adamantly in favor of.

Hawaii interisland shipping news

Interesting blog post on interisland shipping...
like the dueling economists coverage in this piece:

http://bizbites.honadvblogs.com/2009/11/26/laissez-unfair/

Biz Bites| Biz Bites blog, honoluluadvertiser.com | Honolulu, Hawaii

bizbites.honadvblogs.com By Rick Daysog

Hey, Mike, what's happening with the Chapter 343 EIS?

From: http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/20091120_Superferry_is_a_long_shot_to_return_to_island_waters.html

"We recognize the value that the ferries can provide Hawaii and are willing to work with transportation planners, providers and officials to advance proposals to use them in regular service in Hawaii," a MarAd spokesperson said recently.

Selling LCS technology overseas?

Selling 'Superferry' LCS technology overseas?
http://newwars.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/lcs-alternative-weekly-3/

LCS Alternative Weekly « New Wars

Source: newwars.wordpress.com

The littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Independence (LCS 2) pulls away from the pier for her acceptance trials at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala....

Batten down the hatches, boys!...

From: http://blog.al.com/live/2009/11/gov_riley_declares_state_of_em.html

"Updated with video: Gov. Riley declares state of emergency for Alabama as Ida approaches"
By Press-Register staff November 9, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. - Gov. Bob Riley today declared an official state of emergency in Alabama due to the imminent threat posed by Tropical Storm Ida. The emergency declaration enables the governor to invoke various emergency preparedness measures.

Gov. Bob Riley speaks at a dedication ceremony Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at the Austal USA shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala. Riley used the dedication ceremony to announce that he has issued a state of emergency for Alabama as Tropical Storm Ida approaches. During a news briefing at shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Riley urged Alabama residents to take the threat seriously and to follow the direction of local emergency managers for storm preparation.

"Based on the latest information I have seen, Alabama lies directly in the path of Tropical Storm Ida," Riley said...

State of Emergency declared for Ida

Still available for sale...WHAT A DEAL!

From: http://www.marinebusiness-world.com/index.cfm?nid=62874

'The 102m trimaran is available for sale.' Click Here to view large photo

"Austal prepares to launch 102m trimaran"

Austal is preparing to launch its new 102 metre trimaran vehicle/passenger ferry platform at the company’s Western Australian shipyard.

The latest trimaran ferry builds on Austal’s landmark 2005 trimaran “Benchijigua Express” in every sense - optimising performance, seakeeping, fuel efficiency, passenger comfort and payload to deliver a truly next generation transportation solution.

With a maximum deadweight of 700 tonnes and a speed of up to 39 knots, the vessel is available for purchase.

By utilising Austal’s patented trimaran technology, the vessel combines the softer roll of monohulls with the low resistance, stability and carrying capacity of catamarans to open up new opportunities beyond those served by existing fast ferry designs. The trimaran’s lower roll speed means lower accelerations experienced by passengers – significantly reducing passenger seasickness.

Austal Director – Global Sales and Marketing, Andrew Bellamy, said the vessel had already attracted significant worldwide interest ahead of its completion in February 2010.

“Many operators recognise this as a fantastic opportunity to have a state-of-the-art high speed commercial platform delivered and in service as early as March 2010, just five months from now,” Mr Bellamy said.

Austal’s 102 metre trimaran delivers enhanced performance in waves and better fuel economy.

“The enhanced seakeeping of this vessel will help operators offer better service on existing routes plus also begin operations on new routes where sea conditions had previously been too challenging. The possibilities for many operators are definitely exciting.”

At the heart of Austal’s new 102 metre trimaran are three MTU 20V 8000 Series diesel engines, which offer the world’s highest power-to-weight ratio in their power range and are established as a low risk propulsion engine option for many leading high speed ferry operators.

A seating layout that draws on Austal’s 20-year experience with a wide range of customer requirements can be customised to seat up to 1165 passengers.

The extensive range of high quality onboard facilities includes two bar areas, a food preparation and service counter and a boutique gift store. Onboard amenities are designed to maximise accessibility and include wheelchair-accessible toilets, lift and four independent passenger entry points.

Passenger-friendly seating density ensures rows are limited to no more than three seats, increasing comfort and accessibility, which is important during longer journeys. An outdoor seating area is also available.

The vehicle deck has space for 245 cars or 190 truck lane metres plus 145 cars. The stern is reinforced to accept a vehicle ramp if required. With flexibility in mind, the mezzanine deck is a mixture of fixed and hoistable decks that allow the carriage of up to 132 cars with a clear deck height of 2 metres. When hoisted there is a height on the main deck below of 4.3 metres and 2.3 metres when lowered. The trimaran’s unique hydrodynamic hullform combined with its three engine propulsion train delivers fuel efficiency across a range of operating conditions.

A speed of 39 knots (@ 90% MCR) is achieved with fuel consumption of 4.78 tonnes/hour.

A $50 to $60 Million the State of Hawaii could use about now...

From: http://parxnewsdaily.blogspot.com/2009/11/puppy-love.html

Monday, November 2, 2009

PUPPY LOVE: You can’t pick up a newspaper, watch the local TV news- or what passes for “Hawai`i News, Now”- or for that matter hold a conversation these days without someone bemoaning how our keiki are suffering by “missing out” on 17 instructional school days.

Everyone that is but the kids themselves. Oh sure the media has managed to scrounge-up a handful of Goody-Two-Shoes, “I’m gonna teeeeeell” types and stick cameras in their faces so they can parrot what their parents told them to say about “sacrificing our future” because a petty vindictive governor and a pompous and lazy legislature fiddle while education burns.

But move outside the ear-shot of the grown-up and ask any red-blooded kid- especially those who are bored to tears at this year’s “long division again” curriculum- and you’ll hear nothing but “Hip Hip Hooray for “Furlough Fridays”

They’re ecstatic about the fact that the so-called adults are so busy fighting over political considerations that they can’t come up with a lousy $60-85 million to keep the schools open despite the half-a-billion federal stimulus dollars that were supposed to be spent specially for education but instead went for everything but.

$60-85 million?... hmmmm- why does that number sound familiar?

Oh yeah- that’s the same range of the estimate of how much the self-same governor and legislature blew trying to pull a super-fast-one and ram the super-fast-tracked super-fast-Superferry down our gagging throats.

When you include not just the base $40 million bucks for the unneeded, now-useless harbor improvements but stuff like keeping the half-assed barge loading system running, the millions in legal fees and state-worker time and expenses as well as dozens of other costly incidentals, it comes out to... let’s see, divide by the arrogance, carry the corruption, multiply by the “legal bribe” corporate campaign contributions.... oh, around $60-85m.

So kiddies, the least you could do with all your free time is get busy writing to your military-madness-mindset-muddled senator, your Stepford Wife governor and your bought and paid for state legislative leadership and thank them for the gift of “Superferry Fridays.”

With any luck these dolts will figure out a way to fritter away another $60-85 million and make all weekends the three-day variety.

Posted by Andy Parx

Interesting...

From: http://www.sys-con.com/node/1153705

"General Dynamics' Littoral Combat Ship Independence Completes Builder's Trials"
By: PR Newswire Oct. 21, 2009

MOBILE, Ala., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Independence (LCS 2), the innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship being constructed by shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., as part of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, successfully completed a series of tests known as builder's trials on October 18 in the Gulf of Mexico. The trials included more than 50 demonstration events that rigorously test the ship and all of its systems in preparation for final inspection by the Navy before delivery.

Notable achievements during the trials included reaching a sustained speed of 44 knots during the required four-hour full-power run, with a top speed in excess of 45 knots...

Many of the test events were conducted in high sea-state and wind conditions (8-foot waves and winds in excess of 25 knots). Despite the weather, the ship repeatedly reached speeds of over 45 knots with propulsion and ride-control systems operating in full automatic mode, proving the effectiveness of the control systems and the highly efficient and stable characteristics of the trimaran hull form.

A series of high speed ahead and astern maneuvers in these sea state conditions proved the effectiveness of the ship's four steerable water jets. During the repeated high-speed turns the ship demonstrated excellent agility and stability characteristics.

The ship's flight deck remained stable despite sea state conditions and maneuvers...

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team. Partners include shipbuilder Austal USA (Mobile, AL); General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Fairfax, VA); BAE Systems (Rockville, MD); L3 Communications Marine Systems (Leesburg, VA); Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (Baltimore, MD); and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, MD).

Bath Iron Works employs approximately 5,700 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; the shipyard is also building the lead ship of the Navy's Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers.

Austal USA's Mobile facility currently employs almost 1,000 workers and is the largest aluminum shipyard in the world. In addition to the LCS, recent projects have included construction of the largest-ever aluminum ferry in the United States. Austal is also in the pre-construction design phase on the first Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) for the U.S. Department of Defense...