Aug
19
Superferry: over 125,000 sold
Filed Under Sunrise on KGMB9
Hawaii Superferry boards its 125,000th passenger Tuesday. June traffic was well above May, July was way above June, and August, if not as busy, still reflects strong interest in the catamaranic connection between Oahu and Maui.
Adm. Tom Fargo, the new CEO, says revenues are up a lot, and despite higher fuel prices it looks like profitability will be within reach after the second ferry enters revenue service in the first half of 2009. The second vessel is more built than not at the shipyard in Mobile, Ala.
A report due out Tuesday was to show that Superferry was logging good performance on most environmental metrics, and Fargo, who appeared Tuesday morning on “Sunrise,” said he’s decided that to be successful Superferry must “be the gold standard” of environmental behavior.
He said he goes on walkabout on the ferry and watches some of the vehicle inspections himself. “It’s interesting,” he said. “I’ve been thinking of taking some officials down there to watch.”
The second ferry, to be delivered early next year if the schedule doesn’t slip, is tagged for sailing between Honolulu and Kawaihae. (Kauai is off the boards until or unless Kauai residents gain more confidence that the service is environmentally responsible, though Fargo said he does think support for the service is growing on the Garden Island.)
I still think the biggest threat to Superferry is economic, not cultural or environmental. Rough seas in the winter could significantly impact passenger traffic.
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[...] bet the Hawaii Superferry opponents didn’t see this one coming.The HSF has carried over 125,000 passengers with no major issues. I certainly can’t wait until they start service to Kawaihae next [...]
I’d have to agree the superferry is becoming the gold standard in interisland travel. Which makes me belive that most of the opposition is from people in bed with Matson and Young Brothers. I could never understand while people on the island hate competition so much. It was Kamehameha who united all the islands through stiff competition and blood. Why can’t we continue his legacy instead of dilluting it. Mahalo!