09-18-2014, 02:01 PM
To bananahead - thanks for injecting some reality into this idea of a ferry as a possible commuter alternative.
This trip is over open ocean with winter starting, not the protected waters where most ferry systems operate. Even the Superferry was not able to keep to its timetable near as often as it had planned. No safe place to load/unload passengers on this side, and where would people get off at the end of the ride ? The Hilo piers already have a full schedule - would a fuel barge, or a cruise ship, have to wait outside the breakwall because the commuter ferry was running late ? And I would bet dollars to donuts that there would be quite a few seasick passengers on a rough trip - imagine going to work after sitting next to someone who had been puking breakfast for the last hour. Ughh.
This trip is over open ocean with winter starting, not the protected waters where most ferry systems operate. Even the Superferry was not able to keep to its timetable near as often as it had planned. No safe place to load/unload passengers on this side, and where would people get off at the end of the ride ? The Hilo piers already have a full schedule - would a fuel barge, or a cruise ship, have to wait outside the breakwall because the commuter ferry was running late ? And I would bet dollars to donuts that there would be quite a few seasick passengers on a rough trip - imagine going to work after sitting next to someone who had been puking breakfast for the last hour. Ughh.