Hawaii Superferry Arrives on Oahu

The impressive landing of the Hawaii Superferry, the Alakai, was gladly received into Honolulu with hubbub on Saturday June 30, 2007. The Superferry has completed its 7,600-mile, two week voyage to Hawai'i from Alabama, via the Panama Canal, which included a refueling in Los Angeles.

Alakai voyage status on 6/30/2007 at 9:40 AM Saturday morning was at latitude: 21.65 degrees longitude: 156.47 degrees, cruising at 22 knots (25 mph.) The tracking of the Superferry is found at hawaiisuperferry The Honolulu harbor on the island of O'ahu berthed the Alakai at pier 19 near the Aloha Tower.

Payload capacities are 866 passengers and 282 cars with a normal operating speed of 35 knots, (40 mph), and a maximum speed over 40 knots, (46 mph.). The Alakai, (ocean path), and the ship's logo, Nā Hāhālua, (manta rays), reflect the natural speed of the107 meter, (349 feet), long catamaran. The Alakai is the largest US built aluminum ship and is powered by four 12,000-horsepower jet engines.

The $85-million vessel's base fares start at $44 one way for the three hour trip time between O'ahu, Kaua'i, and Maui and is $59 to $69, for vehicles, Reservations can be made online at www.HawaiiSuperferry.com or by calling 1-877-HI-FERRY for the period between September 2007 through January 2008. By subscribing to the email newsletter, will receive information about the free test cruise for the public that will be available in some time in August.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, 'You may spend a little more time on the water,' said Garibaldi, a former chief financial officer for Aloha and Hawaiian airlines who was born in Modesto, Calif. 'But the seats are more comfortable, and we don't strap you down.'

The manufacture of the Hawai'i Superferry, Austal USA, also has a military contract with the United States Navy constructing the high-speed trimaran, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS.) The length is 127 meters long with a sprint speed, under full load, of 45 knots, (52 mph.)

The world's largest cruise ship with a car deck is the Color Fantasy, built in 2004 with a length of 224 meters 2,770 guests and 750 cars at a maximum speed of 22 knots, (26 mph.)

The world's fastest ferry owned by Fast Cats Ferry Service called the PurrSeaverance is 100 feet long and 28 feet wide for 128 passengers with a top speed of 60 knots, (70 mph.), with normal operating speeds 40 - 50 knots, (46 - 58 mph.)