Testifying during a Maui Circuit Court hearing, Teya Penniman said a committee advising the company on vehicle-inspection procedures recommended a high-pressure undercarriage wash to flush seeds and other tiny material from hard-to-reach areas. Other recommendations included vacuuming vehicle interiors, hot-water treatment of plants to remove frogs, stinging nettle caterpillars and other pests, bleach baths of fishing nets to kill algae and other material, and a canine team to sniff out smuggled plants and animals.

None of those recommendations were adopted, although Penniman said Hawaii Superferry was responsive in devising a campaign to educate customers how they can help prevent the spread of invasive species.

Hawaii Superferry President and CEO John Garibaldi said outside the courtroom that the company's inspection policy goes well beyond the practices of other maritime shippers that transport vehicles in the state.

"We've been been a leader in that. We've had an environmental commitment from Day 1," he said.

Garibaldi also said the ferry's vehicle-inspection policies "are not cast in stone" and that the company is open to making changes "as we get more information."

Penniman's testimony came on the third day of a hearing to determine whether the ferry can resume service to Kahului Harbor while the state Department of Transportation conducts an environmental assessment of $40 million in ferry-related projects at four ports.

As required of all interisland transporters, the ferry will not allow plants or plant parts on board without a certificate of inspection from the state Department of Agriculture. The ferry also is not allowing the transport of soil. Aside from common pets and most farm animals, exotic animals must have a permit to ride the ferry.

The company is requiring that vehicles be free of dirt, especially the tires, where seeds and other material can be lodged. Ferry staff also conduct random inspections of vehicles and baggage at check-in.

Penniman, who indicated she was not speaking on the behalf of the Maui Invasive Species Committee, said she didn't feel the company had allotted enough time for thorough vehicle inspections considering the ferry's quick turnaround at ports. On Maui, the ferry is scheduled to arrive from Honolulu at 9:30 a.m. and leave at 11 a.m. She also was concerned about whether ferry staff had adequate training.

She said that when she participated in a ferry test run Aug. 24, it did not appear that her vehicle was examined to any great extent and the trunk wasn't opened, although workers did open trunks on several other vehicles.

Another concern, according to Penniman, is the Department of Agriculture's limited inspection resources.

In questioning Penniman, Hawaii Superferry attorney Lisa Munger suggested that in light of those limited resourcese, it might be wiser to do an assessment of the invasive species risk while ferry operations are under way to confirm what kinds of plants and animals are being transported and how and where they are being found to determine what the most effective prevention measures would be.

The hearing will resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

A temporary restraining order issued Aug. 27 by Judge Joseph Cardoza that suspended the ferry's Maui operations expires Friday afternoon and cannot be extended.

Attorney Isaac Hall, representing three groups that won a court case requiring the DOT to perform the environmental assessment, said yesterday he will ask Cardoza to continue the Maui ban in the form of a preliminary injunction, at least while the hearing continues.