Webbot brought this back today from www.australianpatentlaw.com:
"Austal Ships Sinks in the High Court"
"Last Friday the High Court refused to grant special leave to appeal from the Full Federal Court decision in Austal Ships Sales Pty Ltd v Stena Rederi Aktiebolag [2008] FCAFC 121, previously discussed here. The transcript of the special leave hearing can be found here.
In relation to the Full Court’s finding that despite claim 1 being incorporated by reference into claim 7, the “width requirements” of the two claims were “true alternatives”, Gummow J noted:
'Of course the ordinary idea is that these claims are dependent. I have said so myself in judgments, but that does not relieve one of the need to construe the particular instrument … Unless you have some point that the Act does not permit the construction of claims in the way that these claims are said to be formulated, it just becomes the particular case.'
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 at 11:22 am and is filed under Australian Patents."
Aloha, Brad
Monday, December 15, 2008
Interisland $39 Fares from the Competition
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Happy Holidays from go! Dear Valued Customer, go! from $39* this holiday season. In celebration of the holidays this year, go! is offering special $39* and $48* one-way fares. If you intend to travel before January 31, be sure to visit http://www.iflygo.com/ now because these great deals will go fast. Our exciting $39* fares are valid for travel through December 31, 2008 and our special $48* fares are valid for travel all the way through January 31, 2009! Tickets must be purchased by 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2008...
* Tickets must be purchased at http://www.iflygo.com/. Tickets are nontransferable and nonrefundable.
Seats are limited and fares may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Changes can be made prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $20 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare. Fares displayed do not include September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Excise Tax of $3.50 per segment. Special fares are valid per segment. A segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. All taxes and fees must be paid at the time of purchase. Flights operated by Mesa Airlines doing business as go!. Fares are not valid on go!Express flights operated by Mokulele Airlines. Tickets must be purchased by 5:30 a.m., December 17, 2008. $39 special fares are valid for travel from December 15, 2008 through December 31, 2008. $48 special fares are valid for travel from December 15, 2008 through January 31, 2009. Other restrictions may apply. http://www.iflygo.com/
This email was sent by go!, 300 Rodgers Blvd. #23, Honolulu, Hawaii 96919, using Express Email Marketing. You subscribed to this permission-based list on 6/5/2007."
Aloha, Brad
* Tickets must be purchased at http://www.iflygo.com/. Tickets are nontransferable and nonrefundable.
Seats are limited and fares may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Changes can be made prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $20 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare. Fares displayed do not include September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Excise Tax of $3.50 per segment. Special fares are valid per segment. A segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. All taxes and fees must be paid at the time of purchase. Flights operated by Mesa Airlines doing business as go!. Fares are not valid on go!Express flights operated by Mokulele Airlines. Tickets must be purchased by 5:30 a.m., December 17, 2008. $39 special fares are valid for travel from December 15, 2008 through December 31, 2008. $48 special fares are valid for travel from December 15, 2008 through January 31, 2009. Other restrictions may apply. http://www.iflygo.com/
This email was sent by go!, 300 Rodgers Blvd. #23, Honolulu, Hawaii 96919, using Express Email Marketing. You subscribed to this permission-based list on 6/5/2007."
Aloha, Brad
Saturday, December 13, 2008
HOLY MACKEREL -- Whoozyer's videos found by Damon Tucker
Today Big Island blogger Damon Tucker “Got Barf Bag”… Hawaii Superferry Forced to Return To Port… Video found two interesting videos posted on Youtube by 'whoozyer' a Maui Realtor and passenger on HSF this past Thursday. These give new visceral meaning to the words "deck slamming."
Damon notes on Part 1: "If you look around the 1:20 mark of this video… you see some scary stuff!"
Damon notes on Part 2: [Note-Deck slamming from about 0:55 in the video] "Around 1:20 mark… captain gets on loudspeaker to explain to customers that there trip has been cancelled and the Ferry is turning around."
'whoozyer' has posted a brief description on each video.
I notice that the "deck slamming" from falling off the waves is making some stunning noise off of the hull, esp. just before the Captain comes over the PA in the second video. The Captain made a good call, but I think these were less than 20 foot waves. Friday the week before would have been similar, if not more. Nevertheless, the Coast Guard's 19 foot limit apparently did not catch this beforehand as it is an inexact art in determining what wave heights actually are at any given time. If as Austal welders have said in interviews, this aluminium hull at it's thickest is only a little more than half an inch thick, then I don't believe the center of an aluminium catamaran hull is capable of sustaining the kind of deck slamming that I heard in these two videos.
Here is a video from last Winter with a reverse view from the shoreline of a similarly rough ride, just before the vessel was forced into drydock:
This is post #400 on this blog,
Aloha, Brad
Damon notes on Part 1: "If you look around the 1:20 mark of this video… you see some scary stuff!"
Damon notes on Part 2: [Note-Deck slamming from about 0:55 in the video] "Around 1:20 mark… captain gets on loudspeaker to explain to customers that there trip has been cancelled and the Ferry is turning around."
'whoozyer' has posted a brief description on each video.
I notice that the "deck slamming" from falling off the waves is making some stunning noise off of the hull, esp. just before the Captain comes over the PA in the second video. The Captain made a good call, but I think these were less than 20 foot waves. Friday the week before would have been similar, if not more. Nevertheless, the Coast Guard's 19 foot limit apparently did not catch this beforehand as it is an inexact art in determining what wave heights actually are at any given time. If as Austal welders have said in interviews, this aluminium hull at it's thickest is only a little more than half an inch thick, then I don't believe the center of an aluminium catamaran hull is capable of sustaining the kind of deck slamming that I heard in these two videos.
Here is a video from last Winter with a reverse view from the shoreline of a similarly rough ride, just before the vessel was forced into drydock:
This is post #400 on this blog,
Aloha, Brad
Friday, December 12, 2008
Interesting reader search today for a "112m fastcraft"
I have noticed that readers are sometimes not finding what they are looking for on my blog because they may not be using the blogger.com keyword search field up in the top left corner of the page for a search of the whole blog history and they may not be using the Control 'F' function to keyword search once they are on the page that has what they were looking for.
Some interesting searches today. First from UAE, a person accessed the site from a satellite internet provider. Click on the domain name. It's interesting:
Domain Name
digitalskys.com (Commercial Satellite Provider)
Location
Country: UAE
Date of Visit
Dec 12 2008 12:33:47 pm
Referring URL
http://www.google.ae
Search Engine
google.ae
Search Words
molokai fast ferry
To answer the above search, there is no Molokai fast ferry. There is a slow ferry from Molokai to Lahaina that is important, and there is a fast ferry that passes by Molokai but does not stop there. FWIW, I think you would have even more problems with the residents of Molokai than even Kauai if you tried to stop a fast ferry there.
Domain Name
bull.pf (French Polynesia)
ISP: MANA S.A.
Location
Country:
French Polynesia
City: Papeete
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008
Domain Name
rand.org (Organization)
ISP: The RAND Corporation
Location
State: California
City: Santa Monica
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008
Visit Length
8 minutes 26 seconds
Page Views
5
Referring URL
http://www.tomw.net....gh-speed-vessel.html
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....proceedings-and.html
Visit Exit Page
http://hisuperferry....proceedings-and.html
Out Click
Incat http://www.incat.com.au/
Visit Number
1,472
Nothing in particular about the above two visits, just interesting. The next search is by a ferry company looking for information on '112m fastcraft.' The only three that I know of which may be available for sale or lease are Incat's Hull #064, Model 112m WPC, Name Natchan Rera and Hull #065, Model 112m WPC, Name Natchan World along with HSF/Austal's Hull #A616 Unnamed. I noticed that the person may not have found what they were looking for on my blog because they may not have used the blogger.com keyword search field up in the top left corner of the page for a search of the whole blog history and they may not have used the Control 'F' function to keyword search for '112m' once they were on the page that had what they were looking for.
Domain Name
stenaline.com (Commercial)
IP Address
194.17.229.# (Stena Line Corporate Network)
ISP
TeliaSonera AB
Location
Country: Sweden
City: Gothenburg
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008 3:50:53 am
Referring URL
http://www.google.co...astcraft&btnG=Search
Search Engine
google.com
Search Words
112m fastcraft
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....8_10_01_archive.html
Visit Number
1,473
Aloha, Brad
Some interesting searches today. First from UAE, a person accessed the site from a satellite internet provider. Click on the domain name. It's interesting:
Domain Name
digitalskys.com (Commercial Satellite Provider)
Location
Country: UAE
Date of Visit
Dec 12 2008 12:33:47 pm
Referring URL
http://www.google.ae
Search Engine
google.ae
Search Words
molokai fast ferry
To answer the above search, there is no Molokai fast ferry. There is a slow ferry from Molokai to Lahaina that is important, and there is a fast ferry that passes by Molokai but does not stop there. FWIW, I think you would have even more problems with the residents of Molokai than even Kauai if you tried to stop a fast ferry there.
Domain Name
bull.pf (French Polynesia)
ISP: MANA S.A.
Location
Country:
French Polynesia
City: Papeete
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008
Domain Name
rand.org (Organization)
ISP: The RAND Corporation
Location
State: California
City: Santa Monica
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008
Visit Length
8 minutes 26 seconds
Page Views
5
Referring URL
http://www.tomw.net....gh-speed-vessel.html
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....proceedings-and.html
Visit Exit Page
http://hisuperferry....proceedings-and.html
Out Click
Incat http://www.incat.com.au/
Visit Number
1,472
Nothing in particular about the above two visits, just interesting. The next search is by a ferry company looking for information on '112m fastcraft.' The only three that I know of which may be available for sale or lease are Incat's Hull #064, Model 112m WPC, Name Natchan Rera and Hull #065, Model 112m WPC, Name Natchan World along with HSF/Austal's Hull #A616 Unnamed. I noticed that the person may not have found what they were looking for on my blog because they may not have used the blogger.com keyword search field up in the top left corner of the page for a search of the whole blog history and they may not have used the Control 'F' function to keyword search for '112m' once they were on the page that had what they were looking for.
Domain Name
stenaline.com (Commercial)
IP Address
194.17.229.# (Stena Line Corporate Network)
ISP
TeliaSonera AB
Location
Country: Sweden
City: Gothenburg
Time of Visit
Dec 12 2008 3:50:53 am
Referring URL
http://www.google.co...astcraft&btnG=Search
Search Engine
google.com
Search Words
112m fastcraft
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....8_10_01_archive.html
Visit Number
1,473
Aloha, Brad
Thursday's "Severe high seas?" and An Interesting Article
Was not even paying attention to the surf on Thursday and HSF's cancellation, until Larry mentioned it on his blog and it also showed up in PBN, apparently quoting HSF, reported, "Hawaii Superferry canceled its Oahu-Maui voyages Thursday due to severe high seas."
"Severe high seas?"
NOAA indicated winds were 22-27 knots and all of the sites indicated surf was no more than 15-18 feet high on the wave faces, NOAA actually reported it as 9 feet waves from the troughs to crests. As far as I know they ran in bigger surf than this last Friday. It's hard to understand how Thursday could have been called "severe high seas."
Also, of interest, coming out on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in Pacific Magazine:
"New Ferry Service Proposed For French Polynesia" (Tahitipresse)
"A New Caledonian businessman has applied for a license to operate an 800-passenger, 286-cabin super ferry on regular voyages from Papeete to the Leeward Islands of Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora.
The Inter-Island Maritime Navigation Advisory Committee is due to decide at the end of January on the license application from Bill Ravel, a businessman who is no stranger to Tahiti at the business level as well as the often politically related level.
His proposed super ferry would cost an estimated 3.3 billion French Pacific francs (US$37 million/€27.7m) and could also carry 70 motor vehicles on three weekly rotations out of Papeete, according to the dossier that Ravel submitted to authorities. Nearly half the investment would be tax exempt.
The 140-meter (459-ft) ferry would have three passenger classes and, if approved by the government, would begin serving the Raromatai destinations, as the Leeward Islands are often called, by the end of next year.
Ravel is even calling his proposed vessel the Raromatai Ferry, the same name as the passenger/motor vehicle ferry that Tahiti businessman Quito Braun-Ortega operated between Papeete and the Leeward Islands during the 1980s.
The Ravel dossier describes the proposed vessel as "respectable (in) size, fast and comfortable, offering cabin seats at an affordable price—a third of (the cost of) an airline ticket," meeting a real public need.
Ravel explained his three passenger classes in an interview published Saturday in French language daily newspaper La Dépêche de Tahiti (LDT), the first media organization to break the story.
First-class passengers would pay the same as Air Tahiti passengers using French Polynesia's biggest regularly scheduled domestic airline. Second-class passengers would pay 8,000 French Pacific francs (US$90/€67) for a one-way trip. Third-class passengers would pay 6,000 French Pacific francs (US$67/€50), or "have the plane fare," Ravel told LDT.
Under a headline "A Dream," the newspaper published a sidebar story Saturday describing an eventual trip from Papeete to Bora Bora aboard the Raromatai Ferry. The potential third-class passenger trip for a couple with two children under 12 years of age sharing the same air-conditioned cabin would cost 12,000 French Pacific francs (US$135/€101).
In effect, the two children would travel free, according to LDT. And for an additional 5,000 French Pacific francs (US$56/€42) they could take the family car with a limit of 500 kilos (1,102 pounds) of free luggage in the trunk.
The advisory committee postponed a decision on the dossier until late January because it had been considerably changed since it was first presented in mid-November.
The main change involved the choice of vessel. Originally, Ravel proposed using the SeaFrance Manet, which according to the Internet Web site Wikipedia, was built in 1984 as a passenger ferry, but has been used for freight services since 2006. SeaFrance is a ferry company based in France that operates ferry services between Calais and Dover, England.
By switching from the SeaFrance Manet concept to the building of a new passenger/car ferry, Ravel's proposal reduced the passenger capacity from more than 1,000-1,300 to 800, and reduced the speed to a more reasonable 16.5 knots, according to LDT. However, the car capacity was increased from 50 to 70.
Ravel told LDT, "The objective is 1,860,000 passengers per year, or 25 percent of the global traffic, planes included. He claimed "this would not affect Air Tahiti's volume of passengers because we would create our own clientele. "Presently there are 600,000 passengers," he said of the combined maritime-aviation market for trips from Papeete to the Leeward Islands..."
Aloha, Brad
"Severe high seas?"
NOAA indicated winds were 22-27 knots and all of the sites indicated surf was no more than 15-18 feet high on the wave faces, NOAA actually reported it as 9 feet waves from the troughs to crests. As far as I know they ran in bigger surf than this last Friday. It's hard to understand how Thursday could have been called "severe high seas."
Also, of interest, coming out on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in Pacific Magazine:
"New Ferry Service Proposed For French Polynesia" (Tahitipresse)
"A New Caledonian businessman has applied for a license to operate an 800-passenger, 286-cabin super ferry on regular voyages from Papeete to the Leeward Islands of Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora.
The Inter-Island Maritime Navigation Advisory Committee is due to decide at the end of January on the license application from Bill Ravel, a businessman who is no stranger to Tahiti at the business level as well as the often politically related level.
His proposed super ferry would cost an estimated 3.3 billion French Pacific francs (US$37 million/€27.7m) and could also carry 70 motor vehicles on three weekly rotations out of Papeete, according to the dossier that Ravel submitted to authorities. Nearly half the investment would be tax exempt.
The 140-meter (459-ft) ferry would have three passenger classes and, if approved by the government, would begin serving the Raromatai destinations, as the Leeward Islands are often called, by the end of next year.
Ravel is even calling his proposed vessel the Raromatai Ferry, the same name as the passenger/motor vehicle ferry that Tahiti businessman Quito Braun-Ortega operated between Papeete and the Leeward Islands during the 1980s.
The Ravel dossier describes the proposed vessel as "respectable (in) size, fast and comfortable, offering cabin seats at an affordable price—a third of (the cost of) an airline ticket," meeting a real public need.
Ravel explained his three passenger classes in an interview published Saturday in French language daily newspaper La Dépêche de Tahiti (LDT), the first media organization to break the story.
First-class passengers would pay the same as Air Tahiti passengers using French Polynesia's biggest regularly scheduled domestic airline. Second-class passengers would pay 8,000 French Pacific francs (US$90/€67) for a one-way trip. Third-class passengers would pay 6,000 French Pacific francs (US$67/€50), or "have the plane fare," Ravel told LDT.
Under a headline "A Dream," the newspaper published a sidebar story Saturday describing an eventual trip from Papeete to Bora Bora aboard the Raromatai Ferry. The potential third-class passenger trip for a couple with two children under 12 years of age sharing the same air-conditioned cabin would cost 12,000 French Pacific francs (US$135/€101).
In effect, the two children would travel free, according to LDT. And for an additional 5,000 French Pacific francs (US$56/€42) they could take the family car with a limit of 500 kilos (1,102 pounds) of free luggage in the trunk.
The advisory committee postponed a decision on the dossier until late January because it had been considerably changed since it was first presented in mid-November.
The main change involved the choice of vessel. Originally, Ravel proposed using the SeaFrance Manet, which according to the Internet Web site Wikipedia, was built in 1984 as a passenger ferry, but has been used for freight services since 2006. SeaFrance is a ferry company based in France that operates ferry services between Calais and Dover, England.
By switching from the SeaFrance Manet concept to the building of a new passenger/car ferry, Ravel's proposal reduced the passenger capacity from more than 1,000-1,300 to 800, and reduced the speed to a more reasonable 16.5 knots, according to LDT. However, the car capacity was increased from 50 to 70.
Ravel told LDT, "The objective is 1,860,000 passengers per year, or 25 percent of the global traffic, planes included. He claimed "this would not affect Air Tahiti's volume of passengers because we would create our own clientele. "Presently there are 600,000 passengers," he said of the combined maritime-aviation market for trips from Papeete to the Leeward Islands..."
Aloha, Brad
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Australian Designed Chinese "HellCat" on Video
Periodically I get people searching my blog for information on the FSF-1, which I don't quite understand as we are not led to believe that that design is being pursued. Still I get regular hits for it, even from industry related sites. Today somebody was looking for a video on the FSF-1 Sea Fighter. I decided to follow them and see if there was one. It follows. But, more interestingly in looking for that, I found the only video I have seen of the Australian designed Chinese attack class "HellCat." We got a lot of readers on both sides of the Pacific who will find this interesting:
Experimental FSF-1 Sea Fighter based out of San Diego:
Aloha, Brad
Experimental FSF-1 Sea Fighter based out of San Diego:
Aloha, Brad
Remember the JHSV Contract Awarded Overbudget?
In follow-up to: JHSV Contract Awarded Well Over Budget and Aluminium and Steel Price History.
From the Financial Times, Dec. 4-5, Aluminium prices and the outlook have come down even more in the past month from when we last looked at it:
"...In the base metals market, aluminium prices sank below the $1,600 a tonne level, reaching a four-and-a-half year low, amid mounting gloom about the outlook for prices and the future of the industry. The benchmark London Metal Exchange three-month aluminium contract sank 2.2 per cent to $1,580 a tonne yesterday, the lowest level since May 2004. Aluminium has fallen 53.2 per cent since hitting a record $3,380 a tonne in early July. Stocks of aluminium at LME warehouses increased by a hefty 19,500 tonnes yesterday and have risen to 1.86m tonnes, the highest level for fourteen years. Rising inventories, which reflect the deepening downturn in global industrial activity, particularly in the carmakers and construction sectors, have weighed heavily on aluminium prices. “The industry is struggling to cope with both an overhang of spare capacity and a huge level of unconsumed inventory,” said Dan Smith, metals analyst at Standard Chartered. An estimated 65 per cent of aluminium smelters worldwide are estimated to be losing money at current price levels...Standard Chartered is forecasting that aluminium prices will average $1,825 a tonne next year, rising to $2,000 in 2010."
That's between 35 to 53% below what would have been budgeted for the aluminium.
Not expecting much from Obama "reformers,"
Aloha, Brad
From the Financial Times, Dec. 4-5, Aluminium prices and the outlook have come down even more in the past month from when we last looked at it:
"...In the base metals market, aluminium prices sank below the $1,600 a tonne level, reaching a four-and-a-half year low, amid mounting gloom about the outlook for prices and the future of the industry. The benchmark London Metal Exchange three-month aluminium contract sank 2.2 per cent to $1,580 a tonne yesterday, the lowest level since May 2004. Aluminium has fallen 53.2 per cent since hitting a record $3,380 a tonne in early July. Stocks of aluminium at LME warehouses increased by a hefty 19,500 tonnes yesterday and have risen to 1.86m tonnes, the highest level for fourteen years. Rising inventories, which reflect the deepening downturn in global industrial activity, particularly in the carmakers and construction sectors, have weighed heavily on aluminium prices. “The industry is struggling to cope with both an overhang of spare capacity and a huge level of unconsumed inventory,” said Dan Smith, metals analyst at Standard Chartered. An estimated 65 per cent of aluminium smelters worldwide are estimated to be losing money at current price levels...Standard Chartered is forecasting that aluminium prices will average $1,825 a tonne next year, rising to $2,000 in 2010."
That's between 35 to 53% below what would have been budgeted for the aluminium.
Not expecting much from Obama "reformers,"
Aloha, Brad
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
"Superferry Chronicles" Maui Book Launch on Youtube
Was browsing Youtube actually for current videos on events in Greece, and was surprised to find the following videos of a "Superferry Chronicles" book launch party. I am 'out of the loop' now on that book, so I didn't even know about these videos. The guy who filmed them goes by the name 'Dr. Leisure' and I remember his full of character van in South Maui from years past. Glad to see Dr. Leisure is doing some multimedia. The videos are interesting:
The following also just showed up on the Internet:
Aloha, Brad
The following also just showed up on the Internet:
Aloha, Brad
Superferry in San Francisco?
Jeff over at the Beat of Hawaii and Beyond: Travel... - http://beatofhawaii.com/ travel blog had the following post today: Hawaii Inter-Island Update: Superferry and Mokulele. It's interesting that there are now at least 3 interisland airlines that have fares equal to HSF and better travel time convenience. Plus the interior of those new Mokulele planes looks really comfy. The only question is whether you really need to take your car with you...or not.
Also, today a friend of a friend wrote a review of the book in the "Hawaii Insider" section of the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Superferry in San Francisco"
Jeanne Cooper December 09 2008
"The Hawaii Superferry is coming to San Francisco -- sort of -- thanks in part to three people with Bay Area ties. Jerry Mander, the founder of the International Forum on Globalization, based in San Francisco, will read from his newly published book, "The Superferry Chronicles," at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at City Lights book store. Co-authored with filmmaker and former San Francisco Slow Food leader Koohan Paik, now of Kauai, "The Superferry Chronicles" comes from Koa Books, a progressive press founded by former Bay Area publisher Arnie Kotler.
Hawaii Insider hasn't had a chance to read the book yet, but its subtitle gives a pretty good indication of its point of view: "Hawaii's Uprising Against Militarism, Commercialism, and the Desecration of the Earth." As Kotler describes it, "The book is a thorough investigation of the Hawaii Superferry from the initial idea in 2001 to today, highlighting the Kauai harbor protests in August 2007 to the subsequent gathering there with Governor Lingle, filled with moving testimonies from all segments of the community, and concluding that environmental concerns have been trumped by political ambition."
The Superferry currently operates between Honolulu and Kahului, Maui. Plans to link Oahu and Kauai are currently on hold, while the introduction of service to the Big Island on a second craft was recently delayed for another year, to 2010. The company, which offers an online list of its preventive measures to minimize damage to marine life and local environments, has strenuously defended its goal of offering interisland ferry service for passengers and vehicles as an alternative to air travel. The ferry makes two crossings a day between Oahu and Maui (it's adding a third for Dec. 23 and Dec. 30), with adult fares starting at $49 each way and $65 for vehicles.
It's interesting to note that here on the Garden Island, where Hawaii Insider is currently visiting, there's almost as much concern about the potential behavior of Oahu residents coming in droves over to Kauai as there is about the environmental impact of the ship itself. With natural resources such as 'opihi (a seafood delicacy pried off reefs) and maile (a fragrant vine used for leis) in high demand and increasingly shorter supply on Oahu, some Kauaians worry that their island could become truly "easy pickings."
Publisher Arnie Kotler lives on Maui, where the start of Superferry service was also marked by rough seas, legally and literally. He has deep Bay Area ties, telling Hawaii Insider he lived in the Bay Area for three decades, as a graduate student at UC Berkeley, "practitioner at San Francisco Zen Center" and eventually publisher of a small press based in Albany called Parallax. In 1999, Kotler says, he and his wife moved to North Kohala on the Big Island to help start a retreat center, and then to the Valley Isle in 2004. The following year, he founded Koa Books, to publish works on "progressive politics, personal transformation and native cultures." (One recent title, "Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace," edited by Maxine Hong Kingston, won the 2007 Northern California Book Reviewers Special Award in Publishing.)
Current Hawaii-themed Koa Books titles in the works include "Hawaii Knowing" by University of Hawaii professor Manulani Aluli Meyer, an examination of Hawaiian epistemology (physical, spiritual and relational ways of experiencing the world); a revised edition of Tom Coffman's 1998 "Nation Within: America's Conquest of Hawai'i," about the overthrow and annexation of the islands; and a collection of short stories by playwright Wayne Moniz called 'Under Maui Skies.'"
Aloha, Brad
Also, today a friend of a friend wrote a review of the book in the "Hawaii Insider" section of the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Superferry in San Francisco"
Jeanne Cooper December 09 2008
"The Hawaii Superferry is coming to San Francisco -- sort of -- thanks in part to three people with Bay Area ties. Jerry Mander, the founder of the International Forum on Globalization, based in San Francisco, will read from his newly published book, "The Superferry Chronicles," at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at City Lights book store. Co-authored with filmmaker and former San Francisco Slow Food leader Koohan Paik, now of Kauai, "The Superferry Chronicles" comes from Koa Books, a progressive press founded by former Bay Area publisher Arnie Kotler.
Hawaii Insider hasn't had a chance to read the book yet, but its subtitle gives a pretty good indication of its point of view: "Hawaii's Uprising Against Militarism, Commercialism, and the Desecration of the Earth." As Kotler describes it, "The book is a thorough investigation of the Hawaii Superferry from the initial idea in 2001 to today, highlighting the Kauai harbor protests in August 2007 to the subsequent gathering there with Governor Lingle, filled with moving testimonies from all segments of the community, and concluding that environmental concerns have been trumped by political ambition."
The Superferry currently operates between Honolulu and Kahului, Maui. Plans to link Oahu and Kauai are currently on hold, while the introduction of service to the Big Island on a second craft was recently delayed for another year, to 2010. The company, which offers an online list of its preventive measures to minimize damage to marine life and local environments, has strenuously defended its goal of offering interisland ferry service for passengers and vehicles as an alternative to air travel. The ferry makes two crossings a day between Oahu and Maui (it's adding a third for Dec. 23 and Dec. 30), with adult fares starting at $49 each way and $65 for vehicles.
It's interesting to note that here on the Garden Island, where Hawaii Insider is currently visiting, there's almost as much concern about the potential behavior of Oahu residents coming in droves over to Kauai as there is about the environmental impact of the ship itself. With natural resources such as 'opihi (a seafood delicacy pried off reefs) and maile (a fragrant vine used for leis) in high demand and increasingly shorter supply on Oahu, some Kauaians worry that their island could become truly "easy pickings."
Publisher Arnie Kotler lives on Maui, where the start of Superferry service was also marked by rough seas, legally and literally. He has deep Bay Area ties, telling Hawaii Insider he lived in the Bay Area for three decades, as a graduate student at UC Berkeley, "practitioner at San Francisco Zen Center" and eventually publisher of a small press based in Albany called Parallax. In 1999, Kotler says, he and his wife moved to North Kohala on the Big Island to help start a retreat center, and then to the Valley Isle in 2004. The following year, he founded Koa Books, to publish works on "progressive politics, personal transformation and native cultures." (One recent title, "Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace," edited by Maxine Hong Kingston, won the 2007 Northern California Book Reviewers Special Award in Publishing.)
Current Hawaii-themed Koa Books titles in the works include "Hawaii Knowing" by University of Hawaii professor Manulani Aluli Meyer, an examination of Hawaiian epistemology (physical, spiritual and relational ways of experiencing the world); a revised edition of Tom Coffman's 1998 "Nation Within: America's Conquest of Hawai'i," about the overthrow and annexation of the islands; and a collection of short stories by playwright Wayne Moniz called 'Under Maui Skies.'"
Aloha, Brad
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Junk 'Law': Act 2 was Shoddily Written
Regarding the article today:
Hawaii Superferry's interisland service depends on court ruling
Service may be halted if high court rules against law that let ship operate
By Derrick DePledge Advertiser Government Writer Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Derrick continues to miss a few key points:
1) By the requirements throughout Act 2 rather than just the semantics of a "large capacity ferry vessel," there is only one company, HSF, that would have been able to meet all of the requirements and qualify for the benefits of Act 2, so Act 2 is defacto special law and not general law. Somebody should go through Act 2 and list all of the explicit and implied requirements and constraints and you will see only one company met those, mostly based on timing.
2) Also, Act 2, by it's wording, does not have an effective "No Action" alternative on the total project. It is clear from the scoping testimony handouts that Belt Collins is trying to incorporate "No Action" alternatives for dealing with individual mitigations such as harbor improvements, but there is No "No Action" alternative on the whole project by the very wording of Act 2. That is a substantive change from Chapter 343 to Act 2. That alone arbitrarily takes rights away from the public that existed under Chapter 343 and which the State Supreme Court previously affirmed.
If justice is to be done, Bennett's Act 2 will be thrown out for the shoddily written piece of junk that it is.
Aloha, Brad
Hawaii Superferry's interisland service depends on court ruling
Service may be halted if high court rules against law that let ship operate
By Derrick DePledge Advertiser Government Writer Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Derrick continues to miss a few key points:
1) By the requirements throughout Act 2 rather than just the semantics of a "large capacity ferry vessel," there is only one company, HSF, that would have been able to meet all of the requirements and qualify for the benefits of Act 2, so Act 2 is defacto special law and not general law. Somebody should go through Act 2 and list all of the explicit and implied requirements and constraints and you will see only one company met those, mostly based on timing.
2) Also, Act 2, by it's wording, does not have an effective "No Action" alternative on the total project. It is clear from the scoping testimony handouts that Belt Collins is trying to incorporate "No Action" alternatives for dealing with individual mitigations such as harbor improvements, but there is No "No Action" alternative on the whole project by the very wording of Act 2. That is a substantive change from Chapter 343 to Act 2. That alone arbitrarily takes rights away from the public that existed under Chapter 343 and which the State Supreme Court previously affirmed.
If justice is to be done, Bennett's Act 2 will be thrown out for the shoddily written piece of junk that it is.
Aloha, Brad
Absolute Frickin' SCUMBAGS!
How may other times does this happen where the FBI is not target tapping the conversations:
See Video: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=956723222&play=1
"Illinois Governor Accused Of Selling Obama's Senate Seat"
CNBC.com 09 Dec 2008 02:12 PM ET
"Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on criminal charges on Tuesday, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Democrat President-elect Barack Obama, federal prosecutors said.
Blagojevich was also accused of threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of the Chicago Cubs' baseball home Wrigley Field 'to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical' of him.
The 51-year-old Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were charged in a 76-page federal indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Both were taken into custody at their homes in Chicago.
In Illinois, the governor selects a successor when there is a mid-term Senate vacancy. Obama resigned from the Senate soon after winning the Nov. 4 presidential election.
Video: Illinois Governor Indicted
Blagojevich allegedly was caught on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month.
He was seeking a 'substantial' salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or union affiliated organization, a spot on a corporate board for his wife, promises of campaign cash, as well as a cabinet post or ambassadorship in exchange for his Senate choice, the FBI affidavit added...
'Clearly, the charges announced today reveal that the office of the Governor has become nothing more than a vehicle for self-enrichment, unrestricted by party affiliation and taking Illinois politics to a new low.'
Grant and Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, will detail the charges in a news conference at noon."
See Video: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=956723222&play=1
"Illinois Governor Accused Of Selling Obama's Senate Seat"
CNBC.com 09 Dec 2008 02:12 PM ET
"Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on criminal charges on Tuesday, including trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Democrat President-elect Barack Obama, federal prosecutors said.
Blagojevich was also accused of threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of the Chicago Cubs' baseball home Wrigley Field 'to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical' of him.
The 51-year-old Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were charged in a 76-page federal indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Both were taken into custody at their homes in Chicago.
In Illinois, the governor selects a successor when there is a mid-term Senate vacancy. Obama resigned from the Senate soon after winning the Nov. 4 presidential election.
Video: Illinois Governor Indicted
Blagojevich allegedly was caught on court-authorized wiretaps during the last month.
He was seeking a 'substantial' salary for himself at a nonprofit foundation or union affiliated organization, a spot on a corporate board for his wife, promises of campaign cash, as well as a cabinet post or ambassadorship in exchange for his Senate choice, the FBI affidavit added...
'Clearly, the charges announced today reveal that the office of the Governor has become nothing more than a vehicle for self-enrichment, unrestricted by party affiliation and taking Illinois politics to a new low.'
Grant and Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, will detail the charges in a news conference at noon."
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tiananmen 'Tankman' vs. Nawiliwili 'Surfman'
We have a handful of Chinese readers of this blog. Wonder if you have seen the video of the Tiananmen 'Tankman':
A few days ago, I met for the first time the Nawiliwili 'Surfman':
A few days ago, I met for the first time the Nawiliwili 'Surfman':
Aloha, Brad
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My Review of the Book "Superferry Chronicles" (Pt. 1 of 3)
The overall sense I get from the book is that all of Hawaii and specific islands like Kauai and Maui by their centuries of history and culture have world class potential that is dependent upon the aina and akamai decisions by the people and that residents and political leaders should not prematurely sell themselves short with fake, unsustainable decisions and projects.
The book is in three parts. I'm going to review each part. But, first, I should say why the review.
I just sat in on a radio interview that got way off topic in which I mostly just listened. In fact, I was cut off when I tried to make a good point about the book, one of only two brief comments I made during the entire interview. More importantly, though, I have not heard an interview yet that gets into the really good content of this book, much less some of the most useful points that the testimonial content of this book makes. I'm not going to mention publicly any of the minor misquotes and weaknesses in this book. Instead, I'm going to point out some of the great points made by testifiers and the authors of this book.
I'm going to mention these quotes in order as there are so many good ones.
From page 45 is the following quote, "The Superferry itself was not the most egregious example of commercial or military excess, but it came after decades of frustration and humiliation, as the people saw their island steadily diminish in character and mood..."
From page 51 is the following line of thought, "The Superferry fits perfectly into Oahu's economic paradigm of expanding markets and global connectivity, at the unfortunate expense of environmental health and indigenous culture...[Oahu] an economy dependent on growth, versus...sustainability."
From page 52-53, "Longing for Hanabata Days...Oahuans...want to have the option of stepping back to simpler days through a handy three-hour boat ride to charming outer islands, which still have the qualities they gave up....Karen Chun has this insightful explanation...Oahu's so changed now, so urban. People there have a real longing for hanabata days. They view the outer islands as a bit of their lost past...It is such an emotional thing, it's about their lost past."
From page 54, "...what happens in Hawaii [spiritually] affects the rest of the world...Liko Martin...elaborates...'If Hawaii stays oppressed,' he points out, 'that oppression emanates throughout the whole planet. If Hawaii is free, then aloha spreads out over the Earth. Because it's [Hawaii's] the piko.'" [The navel--the center of the Pacific]
The testimonies from Kauai to the Governor on Sept. 20, 2007, were all outstanding, but the following stood out to me upon reading them. Some of them did not show up in the video footage that I had seen.
From pages 65-66, Kauai's Lloyd Imuaikaika Pratt's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety.
From pages 72-73, Kauai's Pua La'a Norwood's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety. Pua La'a would like for her quote to have included her comments on solar and wind. Some believe those comments actually changed policy on Kauai beyond just the Superferry.
From pages 84-85, Kauai's Raymond Catania's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety.
The diary entry about the events of August 27, 2007, from Michael Shooltz starting on page 92 is outstanding, I mean OUTSTANDING. His story about the friendly interaction with the police officer before the protest started is quite interesting. Later, the following quote is particularly insightful:
"Being in the water was a beautiful experience. The full moon rising was magnificent. I gave chunks of the...bars to many of those who had already been in the water for a couple of hours. They were received with laughter, joy, and appreciation. It was fun, kind of a boogie board 'special delivery.' The next hours floating in the water were filled with quiet conversations as folks got to know one another and expressed appreciation. I learned from a farmer from Moloa'a about how the lettuce and broccoli are doing. Other bright young kids spoke of their concerns for the whales and dolphins...As we were spread out across the harbor, there was one beautiful young woman on a board whom I only know by her voice as she would periodically lead us all in Hawaiian chants. [Mehana? Pua La'a?] The mana of the chants was strong, there on the water, under the full moon."
Michael Shooltz continued on page 96, "I wish I could do a search on this computer that would reveal the thoughts and feelings of each stalwart in the water as we watched the lights of the Superferry disappear over the horizon under the full moon." Yes, Michael, I have been looking for something like that too.
The Maui testimonies before the PUC on Nov. 17, 2004, are all good, but the one that really got my attention is the realistic optimistic vision of Iokepa Naeole of the powerhouse Hawaiian Canoe Club:
"I just want to share with you my plans. I don't think you've taken time to listen to what we have planned for Kahului Harbor. In 2020, we will have tripled our fleet of canoes between Na Kai 'Ewalu and Hawaiian Canoe Club. We will have gone from 300 members to 1,000 members in 2020. In 2020, any given day of the week, Monday through Friday, you will see Kahului Harbor filled with canoes--one-man, two-man, three-man, and six-man--because people decided to go paddle instead of eat their Happy Meal. In 2020, Kahului Harbor will look like Papeete, full of healthy people practicing their culture on the ocean and staying healthy. In 2020, the ice problem will have been eliminated, because all of those kids that we do have now paddling will spread the word on to their friends so they will all become part of our paddling, surfing, fishing community, recreational users, cultural users of the harbor, and ice will be a thing of the past...And I'm not talking dakine Feast at Lele, you know, hula show, I'm talking living, breathing culture...that in the future it will be something that you will never see anywhere else on the planet. In 2020, the typical visitor will go home knowing that Hawaii is the number one place to visit not because of the infrastructure provided for the visitor industry, but because of the people that are here and the way we feel about how to live on this planet [sustainably]. With aloha."
The author's did not make use of the Kauai testimonies to the Senators who visited Kauai and the other outer islands in October 2007. Some of that video should go up on the Internet. The author's also did not use testimonies at the Capitol from October 2007. Some of those were especially good and show what the Legislature did not consider for inclusion in Act 2. In particular, the testimony by Kawika Winter, Director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve, delivered impromptu at the Capitol completely in the Hawaiian language was particularly impressive.
From the book, I especially liked Keone Kealoha's, Rick White's, and David Dinner's transcribed testimonies to Belt Collins on Kauai on March 19, 2008.
The local testimonies on March 11, 2008, given by Molokai residents to Belt Collins stand out as particularly poignant:
On page 123, Judy Caparida asks and states, [on Molokai] "...does it really matter to our life? [The Superferry] is something that people want to make for us so that we live by the way they want us to live. We're so free because we're contented. We love what we have. We don't need to have all the stuff over there...What God has given us is free!...You work...For what? Taxes here, taxes there...We don't want the Superferry here, because we don't need 'em...[to Belt Collins] Make sure you guys get down to life--not fantasy, not make-believe...[We] want to live the simple and free Life."
On page 124, Laurie Buchanan states, "...We've seen all the beautiful commercials with Molokai as a backdrop. We try to keep it that way for a reason. It's not to be exploited by commercials or by the Superferry."
Part 2 of this review will be on the second third of the book, the timeline of events on the issue.
My overall sense from these testimonies, esp. from that of people like Iokepa Naeole is that all of Hawaii and specific islands like Kauai and Maui by their centuries of history and culture have world class potential that is dependent upon the aina and akamai decisions by the people and that residents and political leaders should not prematurely sell themselves short with fake, unsustainable decisions and projects. Hawaii has limitless potential in this world and this is the positive lesson that should be learned from this issue.
These are the things that need to be said on the radio, not predictable bickering over race.
Aloha, Brad
The book is in three parts. I'm going to review each part. But, first, I should say why the review.
I just sat in on a radio interview that got way off topic in which I mostly just listened. In fact, I was cut off when I tried to make a good point about the book, one of only two brief comments I made during the entire interview. More importantly, though, I have not heard an interview yet that gets into the really good content of this book, much less some of the most useful points that the testimonial content of this book makes. I'm not going to mention publicly any of the minor misquotes and weaknesses in this book. Instead, I'm going to point out some of the great points made by testifiers and the authors of this book.
I'm going to mention these quotes in order as there are so many good ones.
From page 45 is the following quote, "The Superferry itself was not the most egregious example of commercial or military excess, but it came after decades of frustration and humiliation, as the people saw their island steadily diminish in character and mood..."
From page 51 is the following line of thought, "The Superferry fits perfectly into Oahu's economic paradigm of expanding markets and global connectivity, at the unfortunate expense of environmental health and indigenous culture...[Oahu] an economy dependent on growth, versus...sustainability."
From page 52-53, "Longing for Hanabata Days...Oahuans...want to have the option of stepping back to simpler days through a handy three-hour boat ride to charming outer islands, which still have the qualities they gave up....Karen Chun has this insightful explanation...Oahu's so changed now, so urban. People there have a real longing for hanabata days. They view the outer islands as a bit of their lost past...It is such an emotional thing, it's about their lost past."
From page 54, "...what happens in Hawaii [spiritually] affects the rest of the world...Liko Martin...elaborates...'If Hawaii stays oppressed,' he points out, 'that oppression emanates throughout the whole planet. If Hawaii is free, then aloha spreads out over the Earth. Because it's [Hawaii's] the piko.'" [The navel--the center of the Pacific]
The testimonies from Kauai to the Governor on Sept. 20, 2007, were all outstanding, but the following stood out to me upon reading them. Some of them did not show up in the video footage that I had seen.
From pages 65-66, Kauai's Lloyd Imuaikaika Pratt's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety.
From pages 72-73, Kauai's Pua La'a Norwood's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety. Pua La'a would like for her quote to have included her comments on solar and wind. Some believe those comments actually changed policy on Kauai beyond just the Superferry.
From pages 84-85, Kauai's Raymond Catania's testimony to the Governor was outstanding and should be read in it's entirety.
The diary entry about the events of August 27, 2007, from Michael Shooltz starting on page 92 is outstanding, I mean OUTSTANDING. His story about the friendly interaction with the police officer before the protest started is quite interesting. Later, the following quote is particularly insightful:
"Being in the water was a beautiful experience. The full moon rising was magnificent. I gave chunks of the...bars to many of those who had already been in the water for a couple of hours. They were received with laughter, joy, and appreciation. It was fun, kind of a boogie board 'special delivery.' The next hours floating in the water were filled with quiet conversations as folks got to know one another and expressed appreciation. I learned from a farmer from Moloa'a about how the lettuce and broccoli are doing. Other bright young kids spoke of their concerns for the whales and dolphins...As we were spread out across the harbor, there was one beautiful young woman on a board whom I only know by her voice as she would periodically lead us all in Hawaiian chants. [Mehana? Pua La'a?] The mana of the chants was strong, there on the water, under the full moon."
Michael Shooltz continued on page 96, "I wish I could do a search on this computer that would reveal the thoughts and feelings of each stalwart in the water as we watched the lights of the Superferry disappear over the horizon under the full moon." Yes, Michael, I have been looking for something like that too.
The Maui testimonies before the PUC on Nov. 17, 2004, are all good, but the one that really got my attention is the realistic optimistic vision of Iokepa Naeole of the powerhouse Hawaiian Canoe Club:
"I just want to share with you my plans. I don't think you've taken time to listen to what we have planned for Kahului Harbor. In 2020, we will have tripled our fleet of canoes between Na Kai 'Ewalu and Hawaiian Canoe Club. We will have gone from 300 members to 1,000 members in 2020. In 2020, any given day of the week, Monday through Friday, you will see Kahului Harbor filled with canoes--one-man, two-man, three-man, and six-man--because people decided to go paddle instead of eat their Happy Meal. In 2020, Kahului Harbor will look like Papeete, full of healthy people practicing their culture on the ocean and staying healthy. In 2020, the ice problem will have been eliminated, because all of those kids that we do have now paddling will spread the word on to their friends so they will all become part of our paddling, surfing, fishing community, recreational users, cultural users of the harbor, and ice will be a thing of the past...And I'm not talking dakine Feast at Lele, you know, hula show, I'm talking living, breathing culture...that in the future it will be something that you will never see anywhere else on the planet. In 2020, the typical visitor will go home knowing that Hawaii is the number one place to visit not because of the infrastructure provided for the visitor industry, but because of the people that are here and the way we feel about how to live on this planet [sustainably]. With aloha."
The author's did not make use of the Kauai testimonies to the Senators who visited Kauai and the other outer islands in October 2007. Some of that video should go up on the Internet. The author's also did not use testimonies at the Capitol from October 2007. Some of those were especially good and show what the Legislature did not consider for inclusion in Act 2. In particular, the testimony by Kawika Winter, Director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve, delivered impromptu at the Capitol completely in the Hawaiian language was particularly impressive.
From the book, I especially liked Keone Kealoha's, Rick White's, and David Dinner's transcribed testimonies to Belt Collins on Kauai on March 19, 2008.
The local testimonies on March 11, 2008, given by Molokai residents to Belt Collins stand out as particularly poignant:
On page 123, Judy Caparida asks and states, [on Molokai] "...does it really matter to our life? [The Superferry] is something that people want to make for us so that we live by the way they want us to live. We're so free because we're contented. We love what we have. We don't need to have all the stuff over there...What God has given us is free!...You work...For what? Taxes here, taxes there...We don't want the Superferry here, because we don't need 'em...[to Belt Collins] Make sure you guys get down to life--not fantasy, not make-believe...[We] want to live the simple and free Life."
On page 124, Laurie Buchanan states, "...We've seen all the beautiful commercials with Molokai as a backdrop. We try to keep it that way for a reason. It's not to be exploited by commercials or by the Superferry."
Part 2 of this review will be on the second third of the book, the timeline of events on the issue.
My overall sense from these testimonies, esp. from that of people like Iokepa Naeole is that all of Hawaii and specific islands like Kauai and Maui by their centuries of history and culture have world class potential that is dependent upon the aina and akamai decisions by the people and that residents and political leaders should not prematurely sell themselves short with fake, unsustainable decisions and projects. Hawaii has limitless potential in this world and this is the positive lesson that should be learned from this issue.
These are the things that need to be said on the radio, not predictable bickering over race.
Aloha, Brad
Waves above 20' on Friday
NOAA is calling for consistent waves of 15 ft. on Friday with average wind speeds of 15 knots. Other reliable sources are calling for occasional sets of 24 feet from 6 am on Friday to 19 feet as late as 8 pm on Friday (click on 'Charts' at prior link). Will be surprised if the Coast Guard lets 'em run on Friday. If they operate on Friday, the BOM pegs out at between Beaufort Force 7 and 8 and between BOM 5 and 6, a very rough ride. In surfing lingo this is what they call, "Epic, dude." or "Eddie Aikau, brah."
Know Before you Blow,
Aloha, Brad
Know Before you Blow,
Aloha, Brad
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Whale Testimony for the last OTF Meeting Today
The last Ferry Oversight Taskforce Committee meeting is today. Here is a bit of testimony that will be submitted today:
Public Testimony
Gregory D. Kaufman, President, Pacific Whale Foundation
Oversight Task Force meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, December 3, 2008
"We would like to present three items for consideration:
1. Proposed Route Change: Attached please find a “Proposed Route” for the Hawaii Superferry (HSF).
The ‘Proposed Route’ is 122 miles long, comparable in length to HSF’s ‘Regular Route’ of 117 miles and the ‘Alternate Route’ of 113 miles.
Avoidance of Penguin Bank is key to protecting Hawaii’s endangered humpback whales. HSF’s ‘Alternate Route’ traverses predominately through this whale dense area. In 1994 University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program was contracted to prepare “A Site Characterization Study for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary” for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Chapter 4 of the report is entitled “Cetaceans in Hawaiian Waters” and was authored by Dr. Joe Mobley (pages 47 -61). Dr. Mobley summarizes the following findings:
“7. The combined aerial survey results show clear preferences of humpback whales for different island regions. Ranked in decreasing order of sighting rate (pods/hr of survey), the regions are as follows: Penguin Banks, four islands region (Maui, Molokai, Lanai & Kahoolawe), Kauai and Niihau, Hawaii and Oahu.
8. Humpback whale pods with calves show clear preferences for the shallow waters of the four islands and Penguin Bank regions. This preference has been stable for 15 years of surveys.”
In other words, Penguin Bank not only hosts the highest density of whales in Hawaii, it also is preferential for mother calf pods as well – the lifeblood of the population. Any routing by HSF must avoid this whale rich area.
RECOMMENDATIONS (From December – May):
• The ‘Proposed Route’ should be used exclusively from December to May during the humpback whale breeding season. The ‘Proposed Route’:
• a. Avoids the whale dense area of Penguin Bank;
• b. Reduces transit time in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; and
• c. Minimizes the amount of time HSF spends in waters 100 fathoms or less.
[Please note the attached ‘Proposed Route’ includes the latitude and longitude waypoints for each leg of the route (in boxes next to waypoints), which can easily be incorporated into the Oversight Task Force’s final recommendations.]
2. 500 Yard Approach Distance:
The hallmark of HSF Whale Avoidance Plan has been its repeated claim to be able to maintain a 500-yard approach distance to any humpback whale pod. In HSF’s PUC application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Docket No. 04-0180, filed December 8, 2004) they provided the following answer to the PUC’s order 21391 (10/1/04) “Reply of Statement of Position” with regard to whale approaches (IVb, page 16):
“Applicant clarifies that its policy regarding approach to marine mammals adheres to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) policy for right whales, which prohibits approach within 500 yards, while the NOAA policy applicable to humpback whales (which are the species usually found in Hawaiian waters) is 100 yards. These procedures have been presented to the National Humpback Whale Sanctuary. Terry White, Applicant’s Chief Operation Officer, is a member of the Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Committee.”
Mr. White made a presentation to the 38th meeting of the Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Council, January 20, 2005. Page 5 of the minutes state:
“Mr. White explained Hawaii Superferry’s whale avoidance strategy which includes: vessel design, approach policy (staying 500 yards away), routing (slower speeds and different routes during whale season), visual detection (two added lookouts, making a total of four, during whale season), shore-based theodolite use, technological detections (including radar, collision avoidance sonar, and night vision scopes), and avoidance procedures (course and speed changes).”
HSF’s Whale Avoidance Policy and Procedures (May 2005) page 5 states:
“6. Whale avoidance maneuver procedures
1. Actively seek and identify whales along track line ahead of vessel.
2. Identify course and speed of whales and calculate CPA (Closest Point of Approach).
3. Identify tracks that may come within 500 meter CPA. Change course and/ or speed to maintain a minimum 500 meter CPA
4. If a whale is sighted within 500 meters, maneuver (change course and or speed) until vessel is at least 500 meters away from whale.
5. If a whale appears suddenly in the path of the vessel, execute the appropriate emergency maneuvers to avoid the whales while considering all factors related to vessel and passenger safety.”
HSF prepared a public information document on March 6, 2007 entitled “Hawaii Superferry Informational Briefing, Maui.” Page two of this document contains the following statements:
“3) Please substantiate how HSF’s Whale Avoidance Policy is more restrictive than the 100-yard federal approach law for humpback whales? How is it possible HSF can ensure it will never approach closer than your stated goal of 500 meters? Our policy requires that our vessel change course or speed to stay at least 500 meters (541 yards) from whales which represents a stricter policy than current federal regulations in Hawaii that requires vessels to maintain a distance of 100 yards from a Humpback whale. Our policy represents a high standard to help us avoid whales using current available technology.”
Page six of the same documents contains the following statements:
“12) On November 18, 2004 John Garibaldi, CEO of Hawaii Superferry testified on it’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Engage in Operations as a Water Carrier at Waikoloa Elementary School. Mr. Garibaldi stated:
'Our whale avoidance policy is much stricter than what is required by federal regulations regarding approach to marine mammals…'”
On December 9, 2004 in a reply to PUC regarding their Certificate of Public Convenience application, they clarified the marine mammal approach policy they were referring to was North Atlantic right whales. Federal regulations regarding the protection of right whales prohibit approach to 500 yards and speeds reduced to 10 knots or less in waters where right whales are found, and full stop at 500 yards. How is the Superferry’s approach policy stricter than this NOAA marine mammal approach policy?
“To clarify any previous alleged statements, Hawaii Superferry’s whale avoidance policy statement is stricter than current federal regulations for Humpback whales in Hawaii and does not refer to other areas or other types of whales. Our whale avoidance policy states that our vessels must stay at least 500 meters (451 yards) away from Humpback whales whenever possible. Current federal regulations for Humpbacks in Hawaii require vessels to stay at least 100 yards away.”
From April 7 – 30, 2008 HSF completed 48 trips between Oahu and Maui. They nearly hit whales on three trips or 6.3% of their trips (with two near-misses on one trip alone!). Nearly hitting whales in almost one in sixteen trips has now sent HSF back to the drawing board. They now wish to remove the hallmark of their vaunted Whale Avoidance Policy by amending their policy requiring their vessel “stay at least 500 meters (541 yards) from whales” to no closer than 100 yards.
HSF has repeatedly represented they can detect and avoid whales, and will remain distances five times that of other vessels. The truth is they can not, and could never do this. By using this ruse they received endorsement of the Whale Avoidance Policy from the PUC, the State of Hawaii and the Sanctuary Advisory Council.
By HSF requesting OTF recommend relaxing the requirement from 500 yards avoidance to 100 yards is also an admission they simply cannot detect and avoid whales at distances greater than 100 yards reliably. HSF is over 110 yards long, with a ‘blind spot’ greater than 100 yards, traveling in excess of 35 knots. Allowing HSF to approach humpback whales up to 100 yards will only result in a greater likelihood of near misses and strikes. The latter of which will result in likely injuries or fatalities to passengers and damage to the vessel.
RECOMMENDATION:
• HSF must maintain a minimum of 500 meters distance from sighted whales whenever possible, as required by E.O. 07-10 condition A.4.
3. Reduced Vessel Speed:
HSF cruises at speeds of 35 knots or greater. This speed is three times greater than what Norwegian Cruise Line vessels cruise at during whale months, and 2.5 times the speed of inter-island and container ships plying Hawaiian waters. This high-speed vessel, coupled with its imposing mass of between 400 – 800 tons and inability to detect whales poses a clear and present danger to humpback whales.
RECOMMENDATIONS (From December – May):
• HSF be limited to speeds of 12 knots or less in all waters of 100 fathoms or less, and while in Sanctuary designated waters.
• Nighttime operations: HSF must curtail all nighttime operations with operations limited from 30 minutes prior to sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset."
Sincerely,
Gregory D. Kaufman
President & Founder
PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION
Public Testimony
Gregory D. Kaufman, President, Pacific Whale Foundation
Oversight Task Force meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, December 3, 2008
"We would like to present three items for consideration:
1. Proposed Route Change: Attached please find a “Proposed Route” for the Hawaii Superferry (HSF).
The ‘Proposed Route’ is 122 miles long, comparable in length to HSF’s ‘Regular Route’ of 117 miles and the ‘Alternate Route’ of 113 miles.
Avoidance of Penguin Bank is key to protecting Hawaii’s endangered humpback whales. HSF’s ‘Alternate Route’ traverses predominately through this whale dense area. In 1994 University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program was contracted to prepare “A Site Characterization Study for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary” for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Chapter 4 of the report is entitled “Cetaceans in Hawaiian Waters” and was authored by Dr. Joe Mobley (pages 47 -61). Dr. Mobley summarizes the following findings:
“7. The combined aerial survey results show clear preferences of humpback whales for different island regions. Ranked in decreasing order of sighting rate (pods/hr of survey), the regions are as follows: Penguin Banks, four islands region (Maui, Molokai, Lanai & Kahoolawe), Kauai and Niihau, Hawaii and Oahu.
8. Humpback whale pods with calves show clear preferences for the shallow waters of the four islands and Penguin Bank regions. This preference has been stable for 15 years of surveys.”
In other words, Penguin Bank not only hosts the highest density of whales in Hawaii, it also is preferential for mother calf pods as well – the lifeblood of the population. Any routing by HSF must avoid this whale rich area.
RECOMMENDATIONS (From December – May):
• The ‘Proposed Route’ should be used exclusively from December to May during the humpback whale breeding season. The ‘Proposed Route’:
• a. Avoids the whale dense area of Penguin Bank;
• b. Reduces transit time in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; and
• c. Minimizes the amount of time HSF spends in waters 100 fathoms or less.
[Please note the attached ‘Proposed Route’ includes the latitude and longitude waypoints for each leg of the route (in boxes next to waypoints), which can easily be incorporated into the Oversight Task Force’s final recommendations.]
2. 500 Yard Approach Distance:
The hallmark of HSF Whale Avoidance Plan has been its repeated claim to be able to maintain a 500-yard approach distance to any humpback whale pod. In HSF’s PUC application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Docket No. 04-0180, filed December 8, 2004) they provided the following answer to the PUC’s order 21391 (10/1/04) “Reply of Statement of Position” with regard to whale approaches (IVb, page 16):
“Applicant clarifies that its policy regarding approach to marine mammals adheres to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) policy for right whales, which prohibits approach within 500 yards, while the NOAA policy applicable to humpback whales (which are the species usually found in Hawaiian waters) is 100 yards. These procedures have been presented to the National Humpback Whale Sanctuary. Terry White, Applicant’s Chief Operation Officer, is a member of the Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Committee.”
Mr. White made a presentation to the 38th meeting of the Humpback Whale Sanctuary Advisory Council, January 20, 2005. Page 5 of the minutes state:
“Mr. White explained Hawaii Superferry’s whale avoidance strategy which includes: vessel design, approach policy (staying 500 yards away), routing (slower speeds and different routes during whale season), visual detection (two added lookouts, making a total of four, during whale season), shore-based theodolite use, technological detections (including radar, collision avoidance sonar, and night vision scopes), and avoidance procedures (course and speed changes).”
HSF’s Whale Avoidance Policy and Procedures (May 2005) page 5 states:
“6. Whale avoidance maneuver procedures
1. Actively seek and identify whales along track line ahead of vessel.
2. Identify course and speed of whales and calculate CPA (Closest Point of Approach).
3. Identify tracks that may come within 500 meter CPA. Change course and/ or speed to maintain a minimum 500 meter CPA
4. If a whale is sighted within 500 meters, maneuver (change course and or speed) until vessel is at least 500 meters away from whale.
5. If a whale appears suddenly in the path of the vessel, execute the appropriate emergency maneuvers to avoid the whales while considering all factors related to vessel and passenger safety.”
HSF prepared a public information document on March 6, 2007 entitled “Hawaii Superferry Informational Briefing, Maui.” Page two of this document contains the following statements:
“3) Please substantiate how HSF’s Whale Avoidance Policy is more restrictive than the 100-yard federal approach law for humpback whales? How is it possible HSF can ensure it will never approach closer than your stated goal of 500 meters? Our policy requires that our vessel change course or speed to stay at least 500 meters (541 yards) from whales which represents a stricter policy than current federal regulations in Hawaii that requires vessels to maintain a distance of 100 yards from a Humpback whale. Our policy represents a high standard to help us avoid whales using current available technology.”
Page six of the same documents contains the following statements:
“12) On November 18, 2004 John Garibaldi, CEO of Hawaii Superferry testified on it’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Engage in Operations as a Water Carrier at Waikoloa Elementary School. Mr. Garibaldi stated:
'Our whale avoidance policy is much stricter than what is required by federal regulations regarding approach to marine mammals…'”
On December 9, 2004 in a reply to PUC regarding their Certificate of Public Convenience application, they clarified the marine mammal approach policy they were referring to was North Atlantic right whales. Federal regulations regarding the protection of right whales prohibit approach to 500 yards and speeds reduced to 10 knots or less in waters where right whales are found, and full stop at 500 yards. How is the Superferry’s approach policy stricter than this NOAA marine mammal approach policy?
“To clarify any previous alleged statements, Hawaii Superferry’s whale avoidance policy statement is stricter than current federal regulations for Humpback whales in Hawaii and does not refer to other areas or other types of whales. Our whale avoidance policy states that our vessels must stay at least 500 meters (451 yards) away from Humpback whales whenever possible. Current federal regulations for Humpbacks in Hawaii require vessels to stay at least 100 yards away.”
From April 7 – 30, 2008 HSF completed 48 trips between Oahu and Maui. They nearly hit whales on three trips or 6.3% of their trips (with two near-misses on one trip alone!). Nearly hitting whales in almost one in sixteen trips has now sent HSF back to the drawing board. They now wish to remove the hallmark of their vaunted Whale Avoidance Policy by amending their policy requiring their vessel “stay at least 500 meters (541 yards) from whales” to no closer than 100 yards.
HSF has repeatedly represented they can detect and avoid whales, and will remain distances five times that of other vessels. The truth is they can not, and could never do this. By using this ruse they received endorsement of the Whale Avoidance Policy from the PUC, the State of Hawaii and the Sanctuary Advisory Council.
By HSF requesting OTF recommend relaxing the requirement from 500 yards avoidance to 100 yards is also an admission they simply cannot detect and avoid whales at distances greater than 100 yards reliably. HSF is over 110 yards long, with a ‘blind spot’ greater than 100 yards, traveling in excess of 35 knots. Allowing HSF to approach humpback whales up to 100 yards will only result in a greater likelihood of near misses and strikes. The latter of which will result in likely injuries or fatalities to passengers and damage to the vessel.
RECOMMENDATION:
• HSF must maintain a minimum of 500 meters distance from sighted whales whenever possible, as required by E.O. 07-10 condition A.4.
3. Reduced Vessel Speed:
HSF cruises at speeds of 35 knots or greater. This speed is three times greater than what Norwegian Cruise Line vessels cruise at during whale months, and 2.5 times the speed of inter-island and container ships plying Hawaiian waters. This high-speed vessel, coupled with its imposing mass of between 400 – 800 tons and inability to detect whales poses a clear and present danger to humpback whales.
RECOMMENDATIONS (From December – May):
• HSF be limited to speeds of 12 knots or less in all waters of 100 fathoms or less, and while in Sanctuary designated waters.
• Nighttime operations: HSF must curtail all nighttime operations with operations limited from 30 minutes prior to sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset."
Sincerely,
Gregory D. Kaufman
President & Founder
PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
From Kauai Coconut Wireless 6:15pm Dec. 2, 2008
Just got a call from Keone.
Fargo is speaking, right now, started 6:15pm at a contractors meeting in the Kauai Ballroom of the Kauai Marriott. Apparently giving 'em the pitch. Did not see any notice of it in the media. Seems like it might have been hastily arranged in light of heavily publicized upcoming events this week on Kauai.
Called Rich about it. He said, "Fine, let 'em talk, it'll be their last speech on Kauai before the State Supreme Court shuts 'em down." Actually, Rich's language was a little bit more colorful.
It is interesting that much of the steady traffic between Oahu and Maui has been Oahu construction workers going to Maui and back home. The experience on Maui has been to the benefit of Oahu construction workers. I don't see that it would be any different on Kauai. Not sure about Maui's current levels of construction, but there's not a whole lot of construction on Kauai right now, some of the last major projects still going just got cut back.
I think Fargo's grasping at straws and Rich's got it right.
Aloha, Brad
Fargo is speaking, right now, started 6:15pm at a contractors meeting in the Kauai Ballroom of the Kauai Marriott. Apparently giving 'em the pitch. Did not see any notice of it in the media. Seems like it might have been hastily arranged in light of heavily publicized upcoming events this week on Kauai.
Called Rich about it. He said, "Fine, let 'em talk, it'll be their last speech on Kauai before the State Supreme Court shuts 'em down." Actually, Rich's language was a little bit more colorful.
It is interesting that much of the steady traffic between Oahu and Maui has been Oahu construction workers going to Maui and back home. The experience on Maui has been to the benefit of Oahu construction workers. I don't see that it would be any different on Kauai. Not sure about Maui's current levels of construction, but there's not a whole lot of construction on Kauai right now, some of the last major projects still going just got cut back.
I think Fargo's grasping at straws and Rich's got it right.
Aloha, Brad
Saturday, November 29, 2008
People are asking about the Sea conditions today
Sorry, I was concentrating on other things over the past day. There is a large swell here starting today. Average swell wave heights from 6 am this morning are 12 to 13 ft. with some sets being 17 to 18 ft. (click on 'Charts' at prior link) and winds are a sustained 15 to 20 knots with frequent gusts up to 20 knots and above. Will be about the same again tomorrow.
This is Beaufort Force 6, Barf 4 (BOM), with higher sets and wind gusts getting it close to Beaufort Force 7, Barf 5. These are the roughest ocean conditions here yet for this Fall/Winter season. Still, it's Small Craft Warning, not Gale Conditions. No indication of large vessel cancellations, as these are just below the Coast Guard required cancellation conditions, but it will be a wildride today and tomorrow, more so in the mornings than in the afternoons.
Still need to do a post on the military stardard of measure for this Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) and on Barf-O-Meter (BOM). Will do that soon.
Aloha, Brad
This is Beaufort Force 6, Barf 4 (BOM), with higher sets and wind gusts getting it close to Beaufort Force 7, Barf 5. These are the roughest ocean conditions here yet for this Fall/Winter season. Still, it's Small Craft Warning, not Gale Conditions. No indication of large vessel cancellations, as these are just below the Coast Guard required cancellation conditions, but it will be a wildride today and tomorrow, more so in the mornings than in the afternoons.
Still need to do a post on the military stardard of measure for this Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) and on Barf-O-Meter (BOM). Will do that soon.
Aloha, Brad
Friday, November 28, 2008
Check it out: Akaku Video from Dec. 13, 2007 "Ship Action"
Was looking for a video that somebody on Kauai asked about. Did not find it yet, but did find the following. Readers on Kauai should be sure to watch from 13:50 forward on the video. You can find it at: http://www.akaku.org/ondemand/?v=8Bp3Sv
Aloha, Brad
Aloha, Brad
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The "LCS-1 Bridge Wing" Incident
When someone from Alion Science and Technology goes looking for something, I figure it's gotta be interesting:
ISP: Alion Science and Technology
Location
State: Maryland
City: Upper Marlboro
Time of Visit
Nov 25 2008 10:56:48 am
Referring URL
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=bridge%20wing%20on%20lcs-1&spell=1
Search Engine
google.com
Search Words
bridge wing on lcs-1
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....austal-can-only.html
From Information Dissemination, here is what happened:
See pictures and post: http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/11/bonds-between-sailors-and-ships.html
Also see pictures at: http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/11/inside-view-of-bridge-wing.html
"...The locks along the Welland Canal are only 80 ft wide, while the Freedom is 58 ft from bridge wing to bridge wing. The crew was able to get through lock 7 at 2:00pm OK without a problem...
About 4:20pm on Tuesday night, with both the tug and USS Freedom (LCS 1) centerline in lock 6, the lock door opened. As would happen the ship would get pushed back a few meters before getting pulled forward a few meters. The tug Ohio, attempting to maneuver was pushing itself off the wall and jerked the ship to starboard, opposite line side. As it turned out, the lock workers had already pulled the lines for USS Freedom (LCS 1), so she started drifting hard to starboard. In an attempt to compensate, Ohio pulled hard to port, too hard, and with a tight line saved Freedom from a hard hit to starboard, but the pull began pulling Freedom to port. Ohio suddenly found itself in a tough position, lining up directly parallel against the port wall, she was unable to find leverage to push off the wall. Ohio, attempting to find leverage, seemed to increase speed a bit to build some momentum forward. Next thing you know, Freedom, which was doing about 1.5 knots and was centered, was all of sudden accelerating quickly being pulled by Ohio which could not escape from the port wall.
Slowly I could see Freedom accelerating to 4 knots moving down the lock. Freedom was running only about 1 knot of its own power, and was steering to keep itself centered. The port bridge wing began to veer into the now open lock gate, which had some sort of grading system sticking out from the lock door. The Captain, who was calling 'hard starboard' from the bridge wing, quickly recognized the situation, literally pushed me off the bridge wing with a look (I was standing near the door looking out seeing the wall close in while being the curious civilian bystanding idiot), grabbed a fender and tossed it in front of the port bridge wing. Next thing I hear is "BOOM!" The fender caught one of the protruding grates from the door and was smashed open at least 4 knots. The ship jerked quickly pushing to starboard, but the tug was still caught parallel to the port wall of the lock moving at a deliberate pace, and couldn't push itself off the wall.
With the tug still trying to get free and moving at about 4 knots, the ship jerked again as the rope to the tug tightened and pulled Freedom towards the grate on the wall again. I turned to see the Captain, and his face had the look of helplessness as he jumped into the bridge from the bridge wing. Still calling orders to stop the ship, the bridge wing smashed again into the grate. Somehow Captain covered the bridge width in about 10 seconds, grabbed a fender from the starboard bridge wing, and was able to get back to the port bridge wing just in time to prevent a third massive hit, placing the new fender in position to prevent another massive collision between the bridge wing and the last protruding grate of the lock door. That fender exploded too, this time all I saw looking out of the bridge wing door was smoke and the Captain fighting to keep the bridge wing from taking another hit.
The tug, still stuck along the port wall, had reversed engines and stopped the ship just after this moment in what felt like a small jerk from my position of the far left window viewing forward on the starboard side. Captain kept the ship in that position for a minute while organizing new fenders to the bridge, removing some of the debris from the damage, and getting the line loose from the ship and tug. There was about 5 furious minutes of activity as the ship sat still only a few feet off the starboard bridge wing. The tug line was let loose, and the tug was able to work itself free into the middle of the lock before the line was used to reposition the ship in center of the lock. Over the next several minutes the ship advanced into lock 5 at 1 knot before the tug positioned itself for the next lock..."
Good post by Galrahn,
Aloha, Brad
ISP: Alion Science and Technology
Location
State: Maryland
City: Upper Marlboro
Time of Visit
Nov 25 2008 10:56:48 am
Referring URL
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=bridge%20wing%20on%20lcs-1&spell=1
Search Engine
google.com
Search Words
bridge wing on lcs-1
Visit Entry Page
http://hisuperferry....austal-can-only.html
From Information Dissemination, here is what happened:
See pictures and post: http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/11/bonds-between-sailors-and-ships.html
Also see pictures at: http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/11/inside-view-of-bridge-wing.html
"...The locks along the Welland Canal are only 80 ft wide, while the Freedom is 58 ft from bridge wing to bridge wing. The crew was able to get through lock 7 at 2:00pm OK without a problem...
About 4:20pm on Tuesday night, with both the tug and USS Freedom (LCS 1) centerline in lock 6, the lock door opened. As would happen the ship would get pushed back a few meters before getting pulled forward a few meters. The tug Ohio, attempting to maneuver was pushing itself off the wall and jerked the ship to starboard, opposite line side. As it turned out, the lock workers had already pulled the lines for USS Freedom (LCS 1), so she started drifting hard to starboard. In an attempt to compensate, Ohio pulled hard to port, too hard, and with a tight line saved Freedom from a hard hit to starboard, but the pull began pulling Freedom to port. Ohio suddenly found itself in a tough position, lining up directly parallel against the port wall, she was unable to find leverage to push off the wall. Ohio, attempting to find leverage, seemed to increase speed a bit to build some momentum forward. Next thing you know, Freedom, which was doing about 1.5 knots and was centered, was all of sudden accelerating quickly being pulled by Ohio which could not escape from the port wall.
Slowly I could see Freedom accelerating to 4 knots moving down the lock. Freedom was running only about 1 knot of its own power, and was steering to keep itself centered. The port bridge wing began to veer into the now open lock gate, which had some sort of grading system sticking out from the lock door. The Captain, who was calling 'hard starboard' from the bridge wing, quickly recognized the situation, literally pushed me off the bridge wing with a look (I was standing near the door looking out seeing the wall close in while being the curious civilian bystanding idiot), grabbed a fender and tossed it in front of the port bridge wing. Next thing I hear is "BOOM!" The fender caught one of the protruding grates from the door and was smashed open at least 4 knots. The ship jerked quickly pushing to starboard, but the tug was still caught parallel to the port wall of the lock moving at a deliberate pace, and couldn't push itself off the wall.
With the tug still trying to get free and moving at about 4 knots, the ship jerked again as the rope to the tug tightened and pulled Freedom towards the grate on the wall again. I turned to see the Captain, and his face had the look of helplessness as he jumped into the bridge from the bridge wing. Still calling orders to stop the ship, the bridge wing smashed again into the grate. Somehow Captain covered the bridge width in about 10 seconds, grabbed a fender from the starboard bridge wing, and was able to get back to the port bridge wing just in time to prevent a third massive hit, placing the new fender in position to prevent another massive collision between the bridge wing and the last protruding grate of the lock door. That fender exploded too, this time all I saw looking out of the bridge wing door was smoke and the Captain fighting to keep the bridge wing from taking another hit.
The tug, still stuck along the port wall, had reversed engines and stopped the ship just after this moment in what felt like a small jerk from my position of the far left window viewing forward on the starboard side. Captain kept the ship in that position for a minute while organizing new fenders to the bridge, removing some of the debris from the damage, and getting the line loose from the ship and tug. There was about 5 furious minutes of activity as the ship sat still only a few feet off the starboard bridge wing. The tug line was let loose, and the tug was able to work itself free into the middle of the lock before the line was used to reposition the ship in center of the lock. Over the next several minutes the ship advanced into lock 5 at 1 knot before the tug positioned itself for the next lock..."
Good post by Galrahn,
Aloha, Brad
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