Hawaii Superferry May Go Back to the Pacfiic

MarineLink is reporting on a notification sent by The Passenger Vessel Association to its members. The Hawaii Superferry Unofficial Blog has the full notification.

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) has issued a Market Survey to ask about the cost and availability of U.S. ferry vessels. Anticipated delivery will occur on October 1, although the vessel owner may propose alternate delivery dates. The location of proposed usage will be Guam, Saipan, and adjacent Pacific Ocean waters. The time charter will be for 12 months, with the possibility for three additional year-long renewals.

The closing date for responding to the Market Survey is July 14, 2009.

Secretary Gates announced back in April the Navy was going to increase the charter from two to four JHSVs this year, I think everyone recognized the two Highspeed Superferry's built by Austal for Hawaii were the two that would be leased.

HT to Dave Hart for recent photo of Huakai from March.