Re: Hawai'i Superferry - Chapter 4
I found this very interesting, very recent (Lika! ) story from an Alabama newspaper about Superferry.
What I didn't know: that the $190 million contract to build 2 hulls was signed in 2004, almost 2 full years before HSF actually started communicating officially with the people on the Neighbor Islands. Isn't that kinda like buying a horse sight unseen, but not knowing if the horse can even walk? The time to talk to stakeholders is when you're in the process of design, NOT after you've already designed and committed to a contract.
What I did know: that the first "advisory committees" on the Neighbor Islands for HSF did not meet until 2006.
What I did know:
What I did know:
What I didn't know:
What I did know: That all the Neighbor Islands don't have current space for an HSF terminal on their already crowded harbors, so current occupants are going to have to be moved to accommodate HSF terminals.
What I didn't know: One of the main reasons why Honolulu hasn't been making the same stink about the coming of HSF is it already has a new ferry terminal built, it just isn't being used right now.
From a PBN article in 2004 (don't read this part, Lika, because it's ancient history):
From another recent SB story:
BTW: the "moving agriculture part" will only occur IF the agricultural products shipped on HSF are accompanied by their drivers.
Miulang
I found this very interesting, very recent (Lika! ) story from an Alabama newspaper about Superferry.
What I didn't know: that the $190 million contract to build 2 hulls was signed in 2004, almost 2 full years before HSF actually started communicating officially with the people on the Neighbor Islands. Isn't that kinda like buying a horse sight unseen, but not knowing if the horse can even walk? The time to talk to stakeholders is when you're in the process of design, NOT after you've already designed and committed to a contract.
What I did know: that the first "advisory committees" on the Neighbor Islands for HSF did not meet until 2006.
What I did know:
A fast ferry venture in Rochester, N.Y., ended early last year when that city's mayor halted service of its Spirit of Ontario to stop what he called a "hemorrhaging of tax dollars" brought on by the ferry, which it had bought from a private owner that went bankrupt.
That ferry -- built by Austal USA's parent company, Austal Ltd. of Perth, Australia -- was subsequently bought by a British company that said it would operate an England-France route.
That ferry -- built by Austal USA's parent company, Austal Ltd. of Perth, Australia -- was subsequently bought by a British company that said it would operate an England-France route.
Among those who believe in the Hawaii Superferry are Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who helped secure about $25 million in federal loan guarantees for the vessels, and former U.S. Navy secretary John Lehman, who O'Halloran calls "our major investor."
Hawaii Superferry isn't Lehman's only tie to Mobile: his New York-based company, J.F. Lehman & Co., last summer purchased the Atlantic Marine Inc. shipyards in Mobile and Jacksonville, Fla., becoming in the process the second-largest property owner along the Mobile waterfront.
What I didn't know: One of the main reasons why Honolulu hasn't been making the same stink about the coming of HSF is it already has a new ferry terminal built, it just isn't being used right now.
From a PBN article in 2004 (don't read this part, Lika, because it's ancient history):
Hawaii Superferry has said its business model is based on three key points:
--Charge significantly less for the hours-long ferryboat ride than interisland airfares, whatever they are when service begins.
--Charge a low enough rate to bring a car on the ferry that it is always cheaper than renting a car at the other end.
--Seek defense business, hauling vehicles between islands at night for military exercises. The ferries are being built with specially reinforced vehicle decks especially for this, though the reinforcement also means that big rigs can be driven onto the ferries and it won't matter in which lane they park.
--Charge significantly less for the hours-long ferryboat ride than interisland airfares, whatever they are when service begins.
--Charge a low enough rate to bring a car on the ferry that it is always cheaper than renting a car at the other end.
--Seek defense business, hauling vehicles between islands at night for military exercises. The ferries are being built with specially reinforced vehicle decks especially for this, though the reinforcement also means that big rigs can be driven onto the ferries and it won't matter in which lane they park.
Garibaldi said the venture is "well capitalized." It initially started with about $3.3 million in funding from a core group of investors, then more than $90 million was raised from other participants. That enabled Hawaii Superferry to receive a $140 million federal loan from the U.S. Maritime Administration.
"We see the largest percentage of our revenue coming from passengers and their vehicles -- probably about two-thirds of that," Garibaldi said. "The other third would be commercial vehicles. It would be not moving only agriculture, but also any goods that have a need to move on a quick basis. It opens up markets for everyone in the state."
"We see the largest percentage of our revenue coming from passengers and their vehicles -- probably about two-thirds of that," Garibaldi said. "The other third would be commercial vehicles. It would be not moving only agriculture, but also any goods that have a need to move on a quick basis. It opens up markets for everyone in the state."
Miulang
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