The second high-speed catamaran being built for Hawaii Superferry will include a vehicle ramp to make the vessel more flexible at state harbors and more suitable for military use.

Thomas Fargo, Superferry's chief executive officer, said yesterday that the modification will help the catamaran operate during winter swells at Kahului Harbor on Maui and at an earthquake-damaged pier at Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island.

The second catamaran is under construction at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to be delivered next year. Fargo said Superferry has not determined whether it will also retrofit the Alakai, now operating commercial passenger and cargo service between O'ahu and Maui.

"We haven't made a decision yet," Fargo said.

The Advertiser reported in June that Superferry had spent $210,000 since last summer to lobby for federal defense money for the ramps and other improvements.

Fargo said yesterday that Superferry decided to go ahead with the ramp without the defense money but is still hopeful. The U.S. Department of Defense has a program that helps pay for militarily useful improvements to commercial vessels in exchange for use of the vessels by the military in emergencies.

"Every bit helps," Fargo said of financing for the ramp.

Ramps would allow the catamarans access to large piers without having to use on-shore ramps and barges financed by the state. Fargo said, however, that Superferry would still use the state's ramp-and-barge system when practical. Superferry is repaying the state for $40 million in harbor improvements.

Staffers at the state Department of Transportation had urged Superferry in 2004 to add a ramp to the Alakai for flexibility but Superferry declined, citing weight, travel speed and load and unload time at harbors.

BYM Marine & Maritime News, a Gibraltar-based company that follows the maritime industry, posted an item on its Web site yesterday about Austal's submission for a military contract to build the Joint High Speed Vessel, a military transport ship. The item also noted that Austal had a contract to build features on the second Superferry catamaran "to facilitate its use by the military."

The item was picked up and posted by Disappeared News, a local Web site by community activist and blogger Larry Geller.