Trouble for the Hawaii Superferry

The Seattle Times tells us:

Hawaii Superferry halted service between Honolulu and the island of Kauai indefinitely after the Coast Guard advised that it could not assure safe passage of the 350-foot ferry in and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai, where a flotilla of protesters blocked it from docking late Monday.

A court order sought by environmentalists had already temporarily halted service from Honolulu to Maui (the company hoped to sail again this weekend; get updates at www.hawaiisuperferry.com).

Gov. Linda Lingle, a longtime ferry supporter, requested that the Kauai service be suspended because of public-safety concerns. Opponents say the ferry endangers whales, threatens to spread invasive species and will worsen traffic and pollution. But Superferry officials say the ship’s water jet-propulsion system means there are no exposed propellers to strike aquatic animals.

Here is the local news video:

Links:

• Discoverer News Story (Thanks Bitter End)
• Hawaii Superferry Video
• Official Superferry Site