• Decreased whale-ferry collisions? • More opinions on whale collisions • Comments on the Superferry saga Decreased whale-ferry collisions? I used to research whales, so allow me to re-speculate on Mr. Honjiyo’s speculations on the likelihood of the Superferry colliding
• Decreased whale-ferry collisions?
• More opinions on whale collisions
• Comments on the Superferry saga
Decreased whale-ferry collisions?
I used to research whales, so allow me to re-speculate on Mr. Honjiyo’s speculations on the likelihood of the Superferry colliding with whales.
The likelihood of a ship hitting a whale, and the crew being shaken or even being aware of it, is inversely proportional to the size, and therefore the speed, of the ship. That is probably the main reason why most reported whale collisions are those involving small vessels. I haven’t seen the statistics, but I would guess that most such collisions are not lethal to the whales.
On the other hand, large ships can obviously be deadly to whales, and conversely the whales are not much danger to such ships. When a large fast ship strikes a whale, the momentum transfer will cause most of the damage to be upon the whale, just like when a Mack truck hits a VW. Regarding naval captains, their careers are much more endangered by their not executing the fast maneuvers of naval tactics than by their not avoiding whales.
Whales that are resting and lolling at the surface are the most in danger from fast ships. The whales cannot depend for their safety on those ships avoiding them. They need to themselves detect the oncoming ship and take evasive action. The problem is that the forward projecting ship noise, which would warn the whale, is often partially or totally shielded by the large ship’s hull.
It might be that military ships are purposely designed to cruise silently. There is reason to think the Superferry is a military ship — in the reserves.
To assess the danger to whales, the coming EIS should include the Superferry’s speed-specific noise pattern, i.e., the noise “rose pattern” that is generated at different cruising speeds.
David Au, PhD Population Biology
San Diego, Calif.
More opinions on whale collisions
I would like to respond to Emmette Honjiyo’s letter ‘Increased whale collisions with ferry? Probably not.’ (Letters, Nov. 24).
I don’t know where he is getting his information.
He is right when he states that “whale watching” from boats is a great way to harass and interfere with whales who came here to give birth.
I went on a whale watching tour once. When we finally stopped right next to a quietly floating whale, everyone started yelling and screaming like they were at a “foolsball” game.
The whale left right away.
As for Mr. Honjiyo’s other statements:
Right now, NOAA has stated that in the Atlantic, right whales, which is one of the world’s most endangered marine animals, is facing imminent extinction. (They were named right whales because they were the right kind of whales to hunt, since they float when you harpoon them)
NOAA and others have proposed a speed limit during migration periods so that faster moving ships will stop running over them, maiming and killing them.
Speed has everything to do with killing whales. As many as 50 percent of all right whale deaths are the result of ship strikes.
In the Canary Islands off northwest Africa, a new high-speed passenger ferry system instituted in 1999 has taken a major toll on pilot whales, sperm whales and dolphins.
During the first three months of operation, four whales died from collisions.
I have been on this ferry more then once. I know how fast it goes. I know how fast a whale moves.
According to the January 2001 issue of Marine Mammal Science, a key finding from the ship collision report was that the bigger and faster the vessel, the more lethal the collision.
A total of 89 percent of lethal or severe injuries were inflicted by fast ferries and ships traveling above 15 knots.
Most whales swim at 3 to 4 knots. When frightened, some whales can swim 7 to 14 knots.
Fast ferries have reportedly killed or injured whales in waters off of Maine, Washington state, British Columbia, Spain, New Caledonia, as well as the Sea of Japan, the English Channel and the Mediterranean.
Between France and Corsica, a ferry hits at least one whale per year.
Whales become more vulnerable in these coastal feeding, nursing, calving and mating grounds.
Whales spend more time on the surface in these shallow coastal waters. Sometimes a whale sleeping on the surface gets run over by a ship.
Most of the humpback and right whales killed by ships were calves and juveniles.
The most effective means of reducing fatal collisions would be to require that commercial vessels moving in waters frequented by whales slow to 10 knots or less.
What do you care about more, the life around you or your own personal comfort?
Dennis Chaquette
Kapa‘a
Comments on the Superferry saga
This is a comment to Robert Hickling’s (Princeville) letter to the Forum Friday.
I’m assuming you’re not a graduate of the five high schools on Kaua‘i. For someone who knows his math, the only way it takes 1 to 3 minutes from Nawiliwili to Kukui Grove, Rice Street or the airport means you’re not obeying the speed limits!!
Also this is a comment to Joe Callen’s (Princeville) letter to the Forum on Friday.
The Superferry, like most ferries, is built to accommodate local passengers with vehicles. Of course, passengers on cruise ships need buses, cabs and shuttles. Majority of the passengers are visitors from the U.S Mainland. Remember, that’s where the two of you (Hickling and Callen) residents of Princeville came from.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not biased toward the residents of Princeville. I have friends who live in Princeville, but they’re “full-time residents” of that area.
To the minority of Kaua‘i and Maui, the State of Hawai‘i consists of eight Hawaiian Islands. How soon we forget. Too bad, ecologically our State as a whole is separated by the Pacific Ocean. If Hawaii was similar to California, we wouldn’t have this Superferry saga. Then again, the Island of Hawaii’s population would be about 1.3 million. Just remember, Hawai‘i is a whole state, not each island as a separate state.
Larie G. Acob
‘Ele‘ele
