Hawaii Superferry officials suspend service indefinitely after days of protests, setbacks

IHT ^ | 8-28-07 | AP

[tcrlaf]

The company that runs the first passenger-vehicle ferry service between the Hawaiian Islands suspended operations indefinitely Tuesday after two days of emotional protests and legal setbacks.

Hawaii Superferry Inc. halted service after the Coast Guard advised that it could not assure safe passage of the 350-foot (107-meter) ferry in and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai, where a flotilla of protesters blocked it from docking late Monday.

A court order sought by environmentalists had already halted service to Maui, with a hearing set for Wednesday.

Gov. Linda Lingle, a longtime ferry supporter, also requested Tuesday that the service be suspended because of public safety concerns.

Opponents say the ferry endangers whales, threatens to spread invasive species and will worsen traffic and pollution. But Superferry officials say the ship's water jet propulsion system means there are no exposed propellers to strike aquatic animals.

Lingle said she was concerned by protests Monday night on Kauai that led to 11 arrests after about 65 people on surfboards, canoes and kayaks formed a human blockade and forced the $95 million (€69.53 million) ferry to turn back to Honolulu.

The ferry, named Alakai, was stalled outside Nawiliwili Harbor late Monday for nearly three hours as Coast Guard vessels, including an 85-foot (26-meter) cutter, failed to clear the way for the ship.

[tcrlaf]

This angers me beyond belief...

This ferry service is desperately needed, and yet again, Environmentalism, INC. is going to drive a private company into bankruptcy....

[Jack Black]

What a joke. 100 nitwits on surfboards are running the state. Of course we see activist judges siding with the nitwits on surfboards, that is a given.

Paging Claire Wolfe ...

[Rummyfan]

Luddites!

[Non-Sequitur]

So flying in on a 737 is more environmentally safe?

[TheDon]

Save the environment,
kill an environmentalist.

[stm]

"Hawaii Superferry Inc. halted service after the Coast Guard advised that it could not assure safe passage of the 350-foot (107-meter) ferry in and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai, where a flotilla of protesters blocked it from docking late Monday. "

The law of gross tonnage still applies.

[MrB]

These “protesters” need to have their gov’t and/or family welfare support withdrawn so that they have something real to worry about.

[Red Badger]

We certainly don’t need any enviro-whacko martyrs............

[PAR35]

They need to equip the ship with water cannons to clear debris from its path.

[Checkers]

“Hawaii Superferry officials suspend service indefinitely after days of protests, setbacks”

From the headline, I thought we had another Larry Craig situation...

[Jeffrey_D.]

“Save The Fairies” ?............oh, never mind

[KC_Conspirator]

The Coast Guard needs to immediately go out and arrest these people for piracy or some other crime.

[Badeye]

Lingle said she was concerned by protests Monday night on Kauai that led to 11 arrests after about 65 people on surfboards, canoes and kayaks formed a human blockade and forced the $95 million (€69.53 million) ferry to turn back to Honolulu.

A whole 65 people?

Wow, no wonder the Governor is frightened.

(sarcasm setting: Very High)

[CDHart]

"Paging Claire Wolfe ..."

Amen to that! See my tag line.

Carolyn

[MD_Willington_1976]

They did the same thing to the “Fast Cat” ferry up in BC... what a joke!

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

The irony of this is just amazing. If the Superferry is upsetting them, then why aren't they protesting those pesky mega cruise ships???? Oh right, that is their bread and butter.

[ARE SOLE]

I have been following this story and I have to admit I still don’t get it. The given reasons to oppose this don’t ring true. As pointed out upstream on this thread, there is no protest against much larger cruise ships that visit the outer islands.

What is the real reason for opposition to this project that will bring jobs and convenience to all?

Does it has to do with locals who don’t want other locals being able to visit and easily bring their vehicles?

I just feel the given reasons are not the really what’s behind this. And just how extensive is the opposition, or is it just a few loud mouths?

Regards

[fish hawk]

The protester ARE idiots but this ferry is NOT desperately needed as you claim. I’ve lived here for 38 years and you are not from here so maybe I know just a little bit more about the situation than you. Frankly I don’t give a damn if this ferry gets okayed of killed. If okay, a small boost in the economy, if killed , less traffic problems here on Maui.

[toddlintown]

Bad Ju-Ju.

Aloha.

[colonialhk]

Dope smoking throwbacks to 68 with native activists who wish for the days when they just killed their neighbors and stole their women for fun.

They are all on the state dole of make coffee drinks for tourists.