Jul 8, 2013, 2:29pm HST UPDATED: Jul 8, 2013, 4:20pm HST Hawaii Superferry barges, docks to be sold at auction Enlarge PBN file The state of Hawaii is auctioning off the docks and barges from the Hawaii Superferry for a fraction of the $40 million they cost to build. Duane Shimogawa Reporter- Pacific Business News Email | Google+ | Twitter | LinkedIn The last of the controversial Hawaii Superferry project will be auctioned off next week in an online auction whose starting bid of $250,000 for barges and ramps at harbors in Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island is a fraction of the $40 million the state of Hawaii spent to build them. The Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division and Rosen Auctions are holding the auction, which is scheduled to begin on July 16 and last until July 25. The items on the auction block, which include three unmanned, non-self propelled, deck cargo barges, three vehicle loading ramps and other equipment, are being sold as one entire piece for an opening bid of $250,000 with $25,000 increments set for bids beyond that. Steve Rosen, owner of Rosen Auctions, told PBN that there may be interest not only in Hawaii but in places such as Florida and the West Coast. However, if a West Coast buyer emerges, they’ll have to bear the cost of towing the equipment back there, according to Rosen, who pointed out that it would cost, at a minimum, about $1 million to do just that. As PBN previously reported in 2010, then-state Department of Transportation Director Brennan Morioka said that there had been “expressions of interests by various entities” for the equipment and although he declined to say how much the state could make by selling the barges, he said it would not cover the nearly $40 million balance. The $40 million in harbor improvements was supposed to be paid for by users of Hawaii’s harbors. It’s not quite known what the current remaining balance is. The Superferry announced an agreement about a decade ago to build two catamarans to provide interisland service. Only one vessel ended up in Hawaiian waters, due to legal issues and protests from some local residents.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 23:18:01 +0000
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