Alakai
Encyclopedia
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 alakai, which means "leader."
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.
Like its sistership Huakai
, the vessel features environmentally friendly technologies including non-toxic bottom paint, zero wastewater discharge and clean diesel engines.
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.
The Alakai arrived in Honolulu on June 30, 2007 with a celebration, after a smooth 17 day delivery voyage. 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.
ended service. Before resuming service the ship went through sea trials and was re-certified by the Coast Guard.
...
On September 13 2010, the Huakai and Alakai were auctioned off, for $25 million each, by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and they were reportedly purchased by the United States Maritime Administration.
U.S. Maritime Administration
The United States Maritime Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies, and assists the NDRF in fulfilling its role as the nation's fourth arm of...
. It was originally the Hawaii Superferry
Hawaii Superferry
The Hawaii Superferry was a Hawaii-based transportation company that provided passenger and vehicle transportation between Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oahu and Kahului Harbor on Maui...
's first high-speed ferry. In the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, alakai means "sea path." It should not be confused with the similar word alakai, which means "leader."
Vessel
Alakai is a 349 feet (106.4 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 (68.6 km/h) between the islands of OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. 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.
Like its sistership Huakai
Huakai
Huakai was Hawaii Superferry's second vessel. The ship was completed in September 2008 and was intended to start service in May 2009, but the ship never entered service in Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, huakai means "journey".-Vessel:...
, the vessel features environmentally friendly technologies including non-toxic bottom paint, zero wastewater discharge and clean diesel engines.
Hawaii Superferry’s vessels are designed and built by Austal USA
Austal USA
Austal USA is the American branch of operations for Australia-based shipbuilder Austal. The facility is based in Mobile, Alabama and employs more than 1000 workers with expansions currently underway.-History:...
, a subsidiary of Austal
Austal
Austal is an Australian company that specializes in the design and construction of aluminium vessels. Its main products include passenger and freight ferries, luxury yachts and military vessels....
, an Australian company that is the world's largest builder of fast ferries. Construction on the Alakai began in June 2004 in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. The ship was launched in January 2007, christened in April 2007 and sea trials went smoothly.
Starting Service
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. Alakai returned to service in early April 2008 shortly after Aloha AirlinesAloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
ended service. 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.Status
In January 2010, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced that Huakai, and Alakai would be used to assist with relief in the 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
...
On September 13 2010, the Huakai and Alakai were auctioned off, for $25 million each, by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and they were reportedly purchased by the United States Maritime Administration.