Updated at 12:20 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2007
Kahului Harbor repairs under way despite bad weather
Advertiser Staff
KAHULUI, Maui — This week's foul weather has not interrupted repairs at Kahului Harbor in preparation for the resumption of Hawaii Superferry next week, according to a state Department of Transportation official.Unusually high swells on Monday caused a state-owned barge used to unload and load vehicles from the 350-foot ferry to snap several lines and rip out two mooring bollards at Pier 2. The damage and continuing bad weather forced Hawaii Superferry to postpone its launch a week, from yesterday to next Thursday.
Michael Formby, head of the DOT Harbors Division, said concrete is scheduled to be poured tomorrow for the replacement of the plate bollard that was uprooted. The concrete can cure in the rain, he said. The post-type bollard that was lost also will be replaced.
The ferry barge, which suffered minor damage from bumping up against the pier, was inspected and repairs are being scheduled, Formby said.
"We continue to work with the Coast Guard in anticipation we will have the pier ready for the commencement of operations on Thursday," he said.
Hawaii Superferry will offer a daily roundtrip between O'ahu and Maui, leaving Honolulu at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in Kahului at 10:15 a.m. The ferry will depart Kahului at 11:15 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 2:15 p.m.
