Hawaii Superferry could sail again

HONOLULU — Even the Hawaii Superferry's strongest opponents are acknowledging that it will be sailing soon after the state Senate approved a bill putting it back in service.

Senators voted 20-5 to approve a bill Monday that allows the Superferry to sail from Oahu to Maui and Kauai without having to first complete an environmental study that courts have ruled is required by law. The ferry stopped sailing in late August because of court rulings and protests.

"It is inevitable that this bill or some version of it will pass," said Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kauai-Niihau, speaking to the Legislature before voting against it. "This issue has drained our spirit and divided our community. It is time now for all of us to move on."

The compromise measure sets several conditions on the Superferry, a high-speed catamaran ferry that can carry up to 866 passengers and 282 vehicles, requiring it to make efforts to avoid whales and slow the spread of invasive species between the islands.

But it largely excludes provisions demanded by some environmentalists who wanted the Superferry to slow down in waters used by whales and wash cars before boarding.

A House committee is considering this version of the bill. A vote in favor of it would signal a consensus in the Legislature on the Superferry, and it could resume sailing in about two weeks. All that would be left would be for the full House of Representatives to vote on it and Gov. Linda Lingle to sign it into law.

The proposal puts Lingle in charge of creating and enforcing environmental rules for the Superferry so that it doesn't collide with endangered humpback whales, spread invasive species or result in excessive traffic.

Lingle, a Republican, told representatives she'll prepare those regulations soon after the bill is passed. Superferry officials have already said they'll withdraw their threat to leave the islands if this version of the bill is approved.

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