Disappeared News

Can you please report to us (because it is missing or has disappeared) the number of time any of our shipping traffic between Oahu, Kauai and Maui has a whale been hit by a large vessel the size or bigger than the superferry? Please? I just want to see proof for the claims that it will kill or runover a whale. Because I have not ever heard of it ever happening here. Keep the facts...not opinions.
 

I certainly haven't heard of whale hits. It's a reasonable question. On the other hand, shipping between Oahu and Neighbor Islands on slow barges is not likely to kill even a minnow.

I think I know where you're going with the question, but for facts, try these (Googled, may not be completely up to date but won't be far off):

Together, Young Brothers and Hawaiian Tug & Barge operate a fleet of 10 barges and 13 tugs. The equipment list includes:

Catherine Foss, a 1,800-horsepower, twin-screw tug
Eleu, a 2,800-horsepower tractor tug
Mahi, a 1,800-horsepower, twin screw tug
Mamo, a 3,300-horsepower, tractor tug
Martha Foss, a 1,200-horsepower, steerable kort tug
Mikiala II, a 3,300-horsepower tractor tug
Momi, a 1,800-horsepower, twin screw tug
Billie K, a barge with a 5,000-ton capacity

A number of barges can be seen off of Waikiki each day headed -- slowly -- for other islands. I know of no vessel engaged in interisland shipping the size or speed of the Superferry. If any reader of these comments does, please enlighten us.
 

I recently watched the National Geographic Channel on Oceanic Cable. They had an hour long documentary on the building of the Hawaii Superferry, which is based on a European design from Norway to operated at high speed in very rugh waters. The ship also has jet thrusters, not propellers, around the hull, enabling to turn and stop on a dime. They claim no incidents of collisions with marine life (in a geographic area well known to have a high number of marine mamals). It was a very interesting documentary that answered a lot of questions.
The video may be availble at nationalgeographic.com

Perhaps someone can look into this and find out more of this Norway superferry and see what their safety record is in regards to this issue. Im sure with more research, the truth can be told.