Alakai:new Hulls On Ancient Waters

摘要

Naturalist Charles Menzies, on one of Capt. George Vancouver's early Hawaiian voyages, noted that the largest canoe in the islands was built from a log that had drifted across the Pacific from Oregon. More recendy, the largest passenger vessel on the island also came over from the mainland.rnHawaii Superferry's ship, Alakai, was built in Mobile, Ala., to an Australian design. In modern times as in ancient times, mariners choose the best designs and the best materials available.rnBuilt by Austal at its U.S. plant, the 350-foot by 78-foot ferry carriesrnapproximately 200 cars using the retractable mezzanine deck or a mix of cars and trucks when using only parts of the retractable deck. The passenger deck lounges can handle as many as 800 passengers. By any measure mis is a big vessel and it took a lot of power to move it on its voyages between Oahu and Maui.rnProfessional Mariner visited Alakai before a state court ruling in March 2009 forced Hawaii Super-ferry to cease operations. The judges decided that a state law should not have allowed the company to begin ferry service before an environmental impact statement had been completed. The ruling left the long-term future of Hawaii Superferry and Alakai in doubt.