HOST MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Thursday, February 18, 2010
2:00 – 4:00 pm
HCC MARINE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER
Sand Island Access Road (Right after drawbridge)
The meeting was called to order by Robin Bond, HOST Chairman. There were 26 members in attendance.
- LCDR Marcella Granquist of the USCG gave a presentation on the Ports and Waterways Assessment (PAWSA). This assessment process took place in Honolulu on August 24-25 2009. The PAWSA “is a disciplined approach to identify major waterway safety hazards, estimate risk levels, evaluate potential mitigation measures, and set the stage for implementation of selected risk reduction measures. The process involves convening a select group of waterway users and stakeholders and conducting a structured workshop to meet these objectives. The risk assessment process is a joint effort involving waterway users, stakeholders, and agencies responsible for implementing risk mitigation measures.”
The long-term goals are to:
Provide input when planning for future Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) projects, including establishing or expanding existing Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).
Further the Marine Transportation System (MTS) goals of improved coordination and cooperation between government and the private sector, and involving stakeholders in the decisions affecting them,
Foster development and strengthen roles of Harbor Safety Committees (HSC) within each port, and
Support and reinforce the role of the Coast Guard Captains of the Port (COTP) in waterway and vessel traffic management within their assigned geographical areas of responsibility.
Some of the specific actions suggested for Honolulu Harbor/Barber’s Point are:
1. Open up the Kalihi Channel for commercial traffic.(Economic, Mobility, Congestion and Dimensions)
2. Bilingual requirement for crew watch stander to speak and understand English. (Commercial Fishing Vessel Quality)
3. Establish a VTS to cover Honolulu and Barber’s Point harbors and their approaches. (Configuration)
- Ms. Sandra Pfund gave an update on ATDC’s Honolulu Harbor Plans.
Ms. Pfund discussed the Harbors Modernization Plan which was enacted in 2008. This Plan provides expansion and upgrades to cargo and passenger facilities for all State commercial harbors. This plan includes Kapalama redevelopment and the concept of filling in Pier 5-8 of Honolulu Harbor.
- Ms. Christine Brammer of NOAA Hawaii Humpback Whale Sanctuary gave an update on this year’s whale season and new initiatives being considered by NOAA.
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was congressionally designated by the Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Act on November 4, 1994. The Sanctuary is managed in joint partnership with the State of Hawai’i and covers 1,370 sq. miles of federal and state waters.
Whale vessel Contacts: Specifically there have been 36 confirmed Whale –vessel confirmed strikes for years 2006-2009. In 2010 thus far there have been 4. The Sanctuary relies on opportunistic and voluntary reporting. The majority of strikes are in Maui County. One possible reason for the increase in whale-vessel contacts reporting may be the increase in the outreach efforts and more people are reporting. There is special concern for juveniles and caves which represent 68% of all known strike reports.
Entanglement: The problem of Humpback Whale entanglement in fishing gear generated the formation of the Hawaiian Disentanglement Network in 2002. Over 4,400 ft. of line has been removed and recovered from 14 humpbacks since 2003 and 28 sets of gear have been identified. Eight Humpbacks reported in Hawaii were confirmed to be carrying gear from Alaska (7 of those were pot gear and 1 was long line). In the 2009-2010 whale season there were nine confirmed entanglement reports and one dead animal. HOST might be able to help with providing additional eyes on the water to help find an animal that has been observed entangled but its location has changed.
- Robin Bond gave an update on SOP 11-10 Recreational Diving Safety Reminder and requested approval from the membership. No adverse comments were made.