Cruise ship's tricky port calls on Kaua'i ruled a success
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
After months of apprehension about the 965-foot cruise ship Norwegian Star's ability to navigate the curves of Nawiliwili Harbor, the port call on Kaua'i is now considered a success.
In the first two months of operation in Hawai'i, the Star has aborted its weekly Nawiliwili stop only twice, and that was because of high winds, said Steve Baker, a 13-year veteran harbor pilot who works with the ship's crew to bring the Star to each of its Hawai'i ports.
In light of recent rough weather, missing only two port calls is a positive sign, said Capt. Gilbert Kanazawa, commanding officer of the Coast Guard's marine safety office.
The harbor pilots were initially concerned about maneuvering the Star into a harbor designed for ships hundreds of feet shorter. But last year all the pilots traveled to Alaska to observe the same types of vessels in action, said Baker. The nine Hawai'i-based pilots also went to Florida or Copenhagen to train in simulators programmed with Hawai'i's ports.
"We're trying to bend over backwards to make it work," said Baker, who praised the "technically advanced" ship. He also said that in difficult harbors like Nawiliwili, the pilots request that two tugboats stand by instead of one. That has given smooth results, Baker said, adding, "I think everybody's working together well."
Kanazawa said the pilots' efforts to become more familiar with the ship's maneuverabilities and capabilities have made a tremendous difference.
"Originally there was a very strong concern that we might be passed by," said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau. "(Norwegian Cruise Lines) told us it would be OK, and they were right."
Susan Robison, director of public relations for Norwegian Cruise Line, said nearly all of Star's 2,200 passengers are disembarking on Kaua'i. The call comes immediately after a visit to Fanning Island, more than 40 hours away.
The ship usually arrives between 7 and 8 a.m. on Saturday, and does not depart until 4 p.m., giving passengers time to take a tour or board one of the free shuttles at the dock for shopping centers.
Despite potential problems associated with Nawiliwili, the port offers a more stable option than Port Allen, where ships cannot dock and passengers must be tendered ashore — impossible in high winds and seas.
