LIHUE — Rim of the Pacific starts today. Your garage door opener may notice. Dozens of ships from nearly two dozen countries are slated to arrive in Pearl Harbor to participate in the biennial international military war exercise hosted by the
LIHUE — Rim of the Pacific starts today.
Your garage door opener may notice.
Dozens of ships from nearly two dozen countries are slated to arrive in Pearl Harbor to participate in the biennial international military war exercise hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet — the 24th one since it began in 1971 — and one of the potential effects of the large-scale defense practice is garage remotes may not function properly.
That’s because the electromagnetic activity generated by radar systems aboard ships may work a number on those devices, especially if they aren’t pointed directly at the doors, according to the U.S. Navy.
“Garage door remotes operate on radio frequencies that are actually reserved for government use,” Stefan Alford, spokesman for the Pacific Missile Range Facility, wrote in an email explaining the reasons for the potential conflict. “While we don’t anticipate there to be any such interference for Kauai’s Westside residents, all SPY-capable ships have been briefed on the SPY radiation restrictions close to land in order to avoid possible SPY-land interference.”
While the massive ships will be in Hawaiian waters today, they won’t arrive on Kauai until July 7 when they practice off shore of PMRF.
“While training on the PMRF range, ships might be visible offshore from Kekaha up to Polihale, but probably not below Waimea,” Alford wrote. “Ships may be observed at the horizon approximately 20-25 nautical miles off shore.”
Alford said fixed-wing and rotary aircraft may be visible in the same areas during clear skies. And while aircraft noise may increase to some degree, all pilots will continue to respect the existing noise abatement areas in and around towns.
About 500 PMRF employees are expected to support this year’s RIMPAC, and the base has three C-26 aircraft and two Croman-contracted Sikorsky S-61N helicopters available for support as necessary.
Alford said RIMPAC-related activities at PMRF will not conflict with NASA’s planned launch of its Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, an experimental saucer-shaped flight vehicle designed to test new Mars landing technologies starting this weekend. NASA’s potential launch dates run from Saturday through July 3.
While local groups, including the Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter, say the war exercises are sure to have negative impacts on marine life and the environment, the Navy said in a release that environmental stewardship and protection are top priorities.
“In the weeks leading up to RIMPAC, crews receive training on sighting marine mammals and required protective measures,” Navy Region Hawaii wrote in a release. “Participants follow established and approved procedures to minimize the potential impact on marine life.”
With 25,000 participants coming to the islands, the Navy recognizes noise, crowds and traffic will increase. However, with temporary inconveniences, it says there are tangible and intangible benefits to the state.
According to the Hawaii State Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism, the initial economic benefit for RIMPAC 2014 is projected to be $52.5 million, the Navy said.
And by the end of the five-week exercise, the overall benefit is expected to be tens of millions of dollars higher, after purchases of supplies, fuel and food by participating personnel.
