View source for HST-2

{{Short description|Ferry built in 2007}}
{{for|other ships named Puerto Rico operated by the United States Government|USS Puerto Rico}}
{{Redirect|Alakai|the locality on [[Kauaʻi]]|Alakai Wilderness Area}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ''HST-2''
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = The Cat ferry Yarmouth 2016.jpg
| Ship image size = 300px
| Ship caption = ''HST-2'' leaving Yarmouth Harbour
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|USA|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Alakai''
| Ship owner = *[[Hawaii Superferry]] (2007-2009)
*[[U.S. Maritime Administration]] (2009-2012)
*[[United States Navy]] [[Military Sealift Command]] (2012-present)
| Ship operator = *[[Hawaii Superferry]] (2007-2009)
*[[U.S. Maritime Administration]] (2009-2012)
*[[United States Navy]] [[Military Sealift Command]] (2012-2016)
*[[Bay Ferries|Bay Ferries Limited]] (2016-present)
| Ship registry = *[[Honolulu, Hawaii]], U.S. (2007-2009)
*[[Norfolk, Virginia]], U.S. (present)
| Ship route = 
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Austal USA]]
| Ship original cost = US$88M
| Ship yard number = 615
| Ship way number = 1
| Ship laid down = June 3, 2004
| Ship launched = January 18, 2007
| Ship completed = 
| Ship christened = April 14, 2007
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship maiden voyage = August, 2007
| Ship in service = 2007
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9328912}}
*{{MMSI Number|369070000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: WDD4575
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In service
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Ferry]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|8,127}}
| Ship displacement = 1,646 tons
| Ship length = {{convert|349|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|78|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|12|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 4
| Ship deck clearance = {{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship power = 4 x MTU-8000 diesel engines
| Ship propulsion = 4 x Rolls-Royce [[KaMeWa]] 125MkII waterjets
| Ship speed = {{convert|35|kn|0|lk=in}}, max {{convert|43|kn|0|lk=in}}
| Ship capacity = 866 passengers, 282 cars
| Ship crew = 21
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''''HST-2''''', formerly named '''USNS ''Puerto Rico''''' and '''''Alakai''''', is a vessel owned by the [[United States Navy]] [[Military Sealift Command]]. She was originally [[Hawaii Superferry]]'s first high-speed [[ferry]]. The vessel was later chartered by [[Bay Ferries|Bay Ferries Limited]] to operate a ferry service between [[Maine]] and [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia]].

The design of the {{sclass|Spearhead|expeditionary fast transport|1}} is similar to the two high-speed ferries operated by Hawaii Superferry, both built by [[Austal USA]].

==Vessel==
''HST-2'' was built as ''Alakai'', which means "sea path" in the [[Hawaiian language]]. The vessel is a {{convert|349|ft|m|adj=on}} long high-speed [[roll-on/roll-off]]  (Ro/Ro) passenger and vehicle ferry. She used to operate a daily service operated by Hawaii Superferry at a speed of {{convert|35|kn|lk=in}} between the islands of [[Oahu]] and [[Maui]]. ''HST-2'' has a capacity of 866 passengers and up to 282 subcompact cars. Alternately, its vehicle decks can be reconfigured in five minutes to carry up to 20 large trucks and 90 cars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/26/news/story01.html#jump3|title=Alakai weighs anchor|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=26 August 2007|accessdate=10 July 2016|archivedate=July 24, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724140244/http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/26/news/story01.html#jump3|url-status=deviated}}</ref>

Like her [[sister ship]] {{USNS|Guam|HST-1|6}} (formerly ''Huakai''), the vessel features environmentally friendly technologies including non-toxic bottom paint, zero wastewater discharge and clean [[diesel engine]]s.<ref>[http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/about-us/community/eco-friendly-features.html?src=left Hawaii Superferry - Eco-friendly Features]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213100017/http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/about-us/community/eco-friendly-features.html?src=left |date=February 13, 2012 }}</ref>

Hawaii Superferry's vessels were designed and built by [[Austal USA]], a subsidiary of [[Austal]], an Australian company that is the world's largest builder of fast ferries.  Construction on ''HST-2'' began in June 2004 in [[Mobile, Alabama]]. The ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in January 2007, christened in April 2007 and [[sea trial]]s went smoothly.

==Starting service==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:HSF.jpg|left|thumb|''Alakai'' during sea trials in 2007]] -->
The vessel arrived as ''Alakai'' in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] on June 30, 2007, with a celebration,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starbulletin.com/2007/07/01/news/story01.html |title=Superferry! |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |last=Shikina |first=Robert |date=1 July 2007 |accessdate=11 May 2017 |archivedate=December 4, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204001223/http://starbulletin.com/2007/07/01/news/story01.html |url-status=deviated }}</ref> after a smooth 17-day delivery voyage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdnn.info/news/travel/t070629.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720170713/http://www.cdnn.info/news/travel/t070629.html|archive-date=20 July 2008|date=29 June 2007|title='Alakai' superferry speeds towards Hawaii|work=CDNN|accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>  The ship's maiden voyage was on August 26, 2007, and the trip to Maui was smooth. The voyage to [[Kauai]] was rougher and ''Alakai'' was met by about a dozen protestors on surfboards blockading the entrance to [[Nawiliwili Harbor]]. The protestors were peacefully cleared by the [[United States Coast Guard]].

==2008 dry dock==
On February 13, 2008, ''Alakai'' went into dry dock to make repairs to her auxiliary rudders that were damaged in late January. The dry docking was extended due to hull damage caused when a [[tugboat]] moving ''Alakai'' into [[dry dock]] lost power and collided heavily with the catamaran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=25400|title=BYM Marine & Maritime Defence News|work=bymnews.com|access-date=10 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817145105/http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=25400|archive-date=August 17, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Alakai'' returned to service in early April 2008 shortly after [[Aloha Airlines]] ended service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/09/ln/hawaii803090375.html|title=Superferry in drydock till April 22 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |last=Wilson |first=Christie |date=9 March 2008|accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>  Before resuming service the ship went through sea trials and was re-certified by the Coast Guard.

==2009 shut down==

On March 17, 2009, after about 11 months in service, the [[Hawaii Supreme Court]] ruled that the legislation permitting ''Alakai'' to operate without an environmental review was unconstitutional. Hawaii Superferry made one last round trip to allow an orderly return of passengers who were not on their home island.  They canceled existing reservations and did not take new reservations. The Superferry company intended to look for other work for ''Alakai''; it had also left open the possibility of bringing the ferry back into service if and when Hawaii completed an environmental review, but the company decided to abandon the vessel ending all possibilities of returning to Hawaii.<ref name="kgmb2">{{Cite web|title=Hawaii Superferry abandons ship, and other bankruptcies in the news|url=http://kgmb9.com/howard/2009/07/01/hawaii-superferry-abandons-ship-and-other-bankruptcies-in-the-news/|first=Howard|last=Dicus |date=1 July 2009|work=KGMB9.com |publisher=[[KGMB|KGMB9]]|access-date=11 May 2017 |series=Howzit Howard|location=Honolulu, Hawaii|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009130925/http://kgmb9.com/howard/2009/07/01/hawaii-superferry-abandons-ship-and-other-bankruptcies-in-the-news/|archive-date=2009-10-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2010, the [[United States Maritime Administration]] announced that ''Huakai'' and ''Alakai'' would be used to assist with relief in the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]].<ref>[http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/marad_02-10.htm  Maritime Administration Prepares Five Ships For Duty, U.S. Department of Transportation, January 18, 2010]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122140006/http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/marad_02-10.htm |date=January 22, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/marad_03-10.htm |title=Secretary LaHood Announces Additional Fast Ferry Mobilized for Haiti |publisher=United States Department of Transportation |date=20 January 2010 |access-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528060002/http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/marad_03-10.htm |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2016/03/24/nova-scotia-confirms-high-speed-ferry-for-service-to-portland/|title=New ferry expected to make Portland-Yarmouth trip in 5½ hours |newspaper=The Portland Press Herald |agency=The Associated Press |date=24 March 2016 |accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref>

==Navy acquisition and name change==
On September 13, 2010, ''Huakai'' and ''Alakai'' were auctioned off, for $25 million each, by the [[U.S. District Court]] for the Eastern District of Virginia. They were purchased by the [[U.S. Department of Transportation]]'s [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/10/defense-navy-purchases-ferrier-101310/|title=U.S. buys more high-speed vessels|work=navytimes.com|accessdate=10 July 2016}} {{dead link|date=May 2017}}</ref>

On January 27, 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration transferred two high speed vessels, ''Huakai'' and ''Alakai'', to the [[U.S. Navy]] under the Defense Authorization Act of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1806:defense-authorization-act-funds-transfer-of-ex-superferries-to-navy&Itemid=230|title=Defense Authorization Act funds transfer of ex-Superferries to Navy|work=MarineLog|date=19 December 2011|accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref> The Navy had planned to use the vessels to transport troops and equipment to training areas from [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] and other locations, helping the Navy meet the unique operational requirements without the need to build new vessels.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/DOT_15-12.htm |title=Navy Gets Two High Speed Vessels from Maritime Administration |publisher=United States Department of Transportation |number=15–12 |date=27 January 2012 |access-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203041743/http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/news_releases_summary/news_release/DOT_15-12.htm |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In May 2012, the Navy announced that both ''Alakai'' and ''Huakai'' had been renamed. ''Alakai'' was to be named USNS ''Puerto Rico'' and ''Huakai'' was to be named {{USNS|Guam|HST-1|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15255 |title= Secretary of the Navy Names High Speed Ferries Guam and Puerto Rico – May 2012 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025180607/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15255 |archive-date= October 25, 2012 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> ''Guam'' was modified to replace the chartered {{MV|Westpac Express|HSV-4676|2}} in Okinawa in March 2013, and ''Puerto Rico'' remained laid up until 2016.

On August 19, 2012, ''HST-2'' (then USNS ''Puerto Rico'') was towed from [[Norfolk, Virginia]] to [[Philadelphia]], to keep it safe from [[hurricane]]s while future uses for the vessel were being evaluated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/healthscience/43845-why-is-a-hawaiian-superferry-docked-at-the-philadelphia-navy-yard|title=Why is a Hawaiian 'superferry' docked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard?|first=Zack|last=Seward|work=newsworks.org|date=5 September 2012|access-date=10 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813212320/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/healthscience/43845-why-is-a-hawaiian-superferry-docked-at-the-philadelphia-navy-yard|archive-date=August 13, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
20240624051457
On February 5, 2016, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy removed the name ''Puerto Rico'' from the vessel.<ref name="NVR HST-2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvr/getHull.htm?shipId=3762|title=No Name (HST 2) |publisher=Naval Vessel Register|accessdate=12 June 2025}}</ref> The name ''Puerto Rico'' was subsequently reassigned to {{USNS|Puerto Rico|T-EPF-11}} on December 14, 2016.<ref name="444-16">{{cite press release |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1030242/secretary-of-the-navy-names-three-vessels/ |title=Secretary of the Navy Names Three Vessels |number=444–16 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |date=14 December 2016 |access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>

Austal USA shifted its entire effort after 2009 to U.S. Navy construction of the similar [[Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport|Joint High Speed Vessels]] (JHSVs) and 12 [[Independence-class littoral combat ship|Littoral Combat Ships]] (LCSs) with the experience building the high speed ferries as a feature in winning those contracts.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keating |first1=Edward G. |last2=Danescu |first2=Irina |last3=Jenkins |first3=Dan |last4=Black |first4=James |last5=Murphy |first5=Robert |last6=Peetz |first6=Deborah |last7=Bana |first7=Sarah H. |year= 2015 |title=The Economic Consequences of Investing in Shipbuilding: Case Studies in the United States and Sweden  |isbn=978-0-8330-9036-2 |lccn=2015939206 |page=29 |location=Santa Monica, Calif. |publisher=RAND Corporation, National Defense Research Institute |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA615995.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504015632/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA615995.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |accessdate=3 May 2021}}</ref>

==Gulf of Maine ferry service==
On March 24, 2016, [[Bay Ferries|Bay Ferries Limited]] announced that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. Maritime Administration and the U.S. Navy for a multi-year [[Bareboat charter|charter]] of ''HST-2''.  The vessel would be operated for a passenger/vehicle ferry service in the [[Gulf of Maine]] between [[Portland, Maine]] and [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia]] and retain the name ''HST-2'', but the service and vessel would be branded as ''The CAT'' to align with previous branding used when Bay Ferries operated a high-speed passenger/vehicle ferry on the same route six years prior.<ref name="Prof. Mariner">{{cite web|url=http://www.professionalmariner.com/Web-Bulletin-2016/US-Navy-to-lease-high-speed-transport-to-Bay-Ferries/|title=US Navy to lease high-speed transport to Bay Ferries |work=professionalmariner.com |date=24 March 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>  The vessel underwent a refit at the Detyens Shipyard in [[South Carolina]] and the service started on June 15, 2016.<ref name="Prof. Mariner" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/25/cat-ferry-expected-to-start-service-mid-june/|title=The Cat expected to start ferry service in Maine in mid-June |newspaper=The Portland Press Herald |date=25 May 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2016/06/16/news/portland/high-speed-ferry-begins-service-in-portland/|title=High-speed ferry begins service in Portland |author=Cbs 13 |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |date=16 June 2016 |accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>

At the end of the 2018 season, it was announced that the ferry would be departing from the town of [[Bar Harbor, Maine|Bar Harbor]], rather than Portland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/future-of-portlands-ferry-service-remains-uncertain/97-617347428|title=Future of Portland's ferry service remains uncertain|website=News Center Maine|agency=Associated Press|date=24 November 2021|access-date = 14 October 2021}}</ref><ref name = "bar harbor">{{cite web|url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/travel/maine-nova-scotia-ferry-service-further-delayed/97-0111bc67-ff75-41e0-a808-cfeac5363890|title=Maine-Nova Scotia ferry service further delayed|website=News Center Maine|agency=Associated Press|date=16 July 2019|access-date=14 October 2021}}</ref> Service along this new route was originally expected to begin in summer 2019, but was delayed due to construction work at the Bar Harbor marina.<ref name = "bar harbor"/> Service was then canceled during both the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/travel/for-3rd-year-ferry-from-maine-to-nova-scotia-is-canceled/97-b1e08d90-c5c1-4629-86e2-acb66bfcab21|title=For 3rd year, ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia is canceled|website=News Center Maine|author=Gabrielle Mannino|date=4 February 2021|access-date = 14 October 2021}}</ref> After three years out of port, ''The CAT'' returned to sail from Yarmouth on May 19, 2022,<ref>{{cite web |title=The CAT Schedule |url=https://www.ferries.ca/thecat/schedule/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Bay Ferries Limited|date=February 26, 2020 }}</ref> providing service to [[Bar Harbor, Maine]] for the first time in 13 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=<!-- 7:45 AM EDT --> May 19, 2022 |title=The Cat ferry resumes service to Bar Harbor after 13-year hiatus |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/travel/the-cat-ferry-service-from-bar-harbor-maine-to-yarmouth-nova-scotia-canada-resumes-service-after-13-year-hiatus/97-3556723e-5d1c-4cb5-ad98-bf625b1237c2 |access-date=May 26, 2022 |website=newscentermaine.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.ferries.ca/thecat/overview/ Official site of The Cat]
*[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Hawaiian-SuperFerry-Files-for-Bankruptcy-05472/#more-5742 Hawaii Superferry’s Bankruptcy = US Navy Opportunity]—Defense Industry Daily
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715120103/http://www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=420C4D38DC9C4E3A903315CDDC65AD72&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=DE4005B8131B43818E06FAA9493D3151 Alakai: Hawaii says aloha to fast ferry]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEUIIDBKeEs Tour of the Alakai]

{{US Navy High Speed Vessels}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:HST-2}}
[[Category:Ferries of Hawaii]]
[[Category:High-speed craft]]
[[Category:2007 ships]]
[[Category:High speed vessels of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Military catamarans]]