Alakai
| 300px The Alakai docked in Nawiliwili Harbor | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Alakai |
| Owner: |
Hawaii Superferry (2007-2009) U.S. Maritime Administration (2009-present) |
| Operator: |
Hawaii Superferry (2007-2009) U.S. Maritime Administration (2009-present) |
| Port of registry: |
Honolulu, Hawaii,  United States[1] |
| Builder: | Austal USA |
| Cost: | US$88M |
| Yard number: | 615 |
| Way number: | 1 |
| Laid down: | June 3, 2004 |
| Launched: | January 18, 2007 |
| Christened: | April 14, 2007 |
| Maiden voyage: | August, 2007 |
| In service: | 2007 |
| Status: | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ferry |
| Displacement: | 1646 Tons |
| Length: | 349 ft (106 m) |
| Beam: | 78 ft (24 m) |
| Draft: | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Decks: | 4 |
| Deck clearance: | 14 feet (4.3 m) |
| Ramps: | NO |
| Ice class: | NO |
| Installed power: | 4 x MTU-8000 diesel engines |
| Propulsion: | 4 x Rolls-Royce KaMeWa 125MkII waterjets |
| Speed: | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Capacity: | 866 passengers, 282 cars |
| Crew: | 21 |
The Alakai is a vessel currently owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. It was originally the Hawaii Superferry's first high-speed ferry. In the Hawaiian language, alakai means "sea path." It should not be confused with the similar word alakaʻi, which means "leader."
In January 2010, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced that Huakai, and Alakai would be used to assist with relief in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[2] .[3].
Contents
Vessel
Alakai is a 349-foot (106 m) long high-speed roll-on / roll-off (Ro/Ro) passenger and vehicle ferry formerly operated by Hawaii Superferry. It used to operate a daily service at a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) between the islands of Oahu and Maui. Alakai has a capacity of 866 passengers and up to 282 subcompact cars . Alternately, its vehicle decks can be reconfigured in 5 minutes to carry up to 20 large trucks and 90 cars.[4]
The vessels feature environmentally friendly technologies including non-toxic bottom paint, zero wastewater discharge and clean diesel engines.[5]
Hawaii Superferry’s vessels are designed and built by Austal USA, a subsidiary of Austal, an Australian company that is the world's largest builder of fast ferries. Construction on the Alakai began in June 2004 in Mobile, Alabama. The ship was launched in January 2007, christened in April 2007 and sea trials went smoothly.
Starting Service
The Alakai arrived in Honolulu on June 30, 2007 with a celebration,[6] after a smooth 17 day delivery voyage.[7] The ship's maiden voyage was on August 26, 2007 and the trip to Maui was smooth. The voyage to Kauai was rougher and the Alakai was met by about a dozen protestors on surfboards blockading the entrance to Nawiliwili Harbor. The protestors were peacefully cleared by the Coast Guard.
2008 Dry Dock
On February 13, 2008 the Alakai went into dry dock in early 2008 to make repairs to its auxiliary rudders that were damaged in late January. The dry docking was extended due to hull damage caused when a tugboat moving the Alakai into dry dock lost power.[8] Alakai returned to service in early April 2008 shortly after Aloha Airlines ended service.[9] Before resuming service the ship went through sea trials and was re-certified by the Coast Guard.
2009 Shut Down
On March 17, 2009 after about 11 months in service, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the legislation permitting Alakai to operate without an environmental review was unconstitutional. Hawaii Superferry made one last round trip to allow an orderly return of passengers who are not on their home island. They canceled existing reservations and did not take new reservations. The Superferry company intends to look for other work for the Alakai; it also left open the possibility of bringing the ferry back into service if and when Hawaii completes an environmental review, but the company decided to abandon the vessel ending all possibilities of returning to Hawaii. [10]
See also
References
- ↑ Image showing port of registry listed on stern of the ferry, Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved March 8, 2008
- ↑ Maritime Administration Prepares Five Ships For Duty, U.S. Department of Transportation, January 18, 2010
- ↑ Hawaii Superferry Alakai Becomes Sixth Merchant Ship Activated , U.S. Department of Transportation, January 20, 2010
- ↑ Alakai Anatomy
- ↑ Hawaii Superferry - Eco-friendly Features
- ↑ Superferry!, 2007-07-01
- ↑ CDNN :: Alakai Superferry Speeding Towards Hawaii
- ↑ BYM Marine & Maritime News
- ↑ Superferry in drydock till April 22 - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii's Newspaper
- ↑ http://kgmb9.com/howard/2009/07/01/hawaii-superferry-abandons-ship-and-other-bankruptcies-in-the-news/
External links
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