The Virginian-Pilot
©
Book 'em, Danno?
Well, something like that.
Two Hawaiian superferries tied up at Lambert's Point Docks have been auctioned off on the steps of U.S. District Court in Norfolk, the U.S. Marshals Service has announced.
Price: $25 million each.
Buyer: the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The administration repossesse d the ferries in July 2009 after a bankruptcy judge ruled that the owner - Hawaii Superferry Inc. - could abandon them to lenders. The administration, which guaranteed the loans, moved them to Norfolk.
At that time, lenders were owed nearly $159 million, Bloomberg News reported. Former Navy Secretary John F. Lehman's J.F. Lehman & Co. controlled Hawaii Superferry Inc. and lost its entire $85 million investment.
In May, the federal government sued to get title to the two vessels, the Huakai and the Alakai, leading to the recent auction.
The ferries will remain in Norfolk for now, a Maritime Administration spokeswoman said.
Possible options include selling the vessels as well as a possible deal involving the Navy, which expressed interest in the ferries last year.
Aloha.
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Super Ferries
Perhaps the Navy's interest in the Super Ferries is for Cuba developments. It appears that with the recent announcement of massive government employee lay-offs, the Cuba government finally self destructing.
The Super Ferries will be much needed as its new government forms, and trade lane resumes. The Navy has always had plans for coping with this development.
JML
Supah Dupah Ferry
I lived in Hawaii at when they when Hawaii Superferry Inc. tried their darnedest to get those boats running regular schedules. Between bad weather cancelling the majority of routes and greenpeace stalking their routes throwing themselves in front of the ships that company didn't stand a chance.
More Corruption
Here is what appears to be another case of our gobblement stealing from it's citizens. A private company invested in excess of 85 million dollars to establish another form of transportation between the Hawiian Islands, but because the government pulled their enviormental permits at the last second, their business never got off of the ground.
It's one thing to not approve something, but this company was allowed to proceed to the point of building the vessels and starting scheduled service befor having the plug pulled. Now look who is taking possession of the two vessels, our government.
actually
The private company invested their money to develop the boat and sell it to the US military for use as an inter-island excursion vessel. There was never any actual intent (by the company, anyway) to implement its use as a permanent transportation option in HI. Using the boats in HI was essentially for marketing and R&D purposes.
Use them now
I heard using ferries as an option to a third crossing. Well here they are already built and ready to roll. Sounds like they are at a bargain price too. Until the "tunnel/bridge/widen existing" argument is over, like in ten years, this is an option for now.