Building the Hawaii Super Ferry | National Geographic

the fairy must prove its speed and

the fairy must prove its speed and stability on the high seas passed the

stability on the high seas passed the

stability on the high seas passed the test and it could bring Hawaiians closer

test and it could bring Hawaiians closer

test and it could bring Hawaiians closer together than ever

together than ever

together than ever but if it fails $200,000,000 will be

but if it fails $200,000,000 will be

but if it fails $200,000,000 will be down the drain

the team has a monumental job and a

the team has a monumental job and a tight schedule in just eight weeks they

tight schedule in just eight weeks they

tight schedule in just eight weeks they have to complete a twin hull structure

have to complete a twin hull structure

have to complete a twin hull structure 300 feet long and as big as a city block

workmen have built 40 separate modules

workmen have built 40 separate modules and are now piecing them together the

and are now piecing them together the

and are now piecing them together the catamaran design will reduce drag

catamaran design will reduce drag

catamaran design will reduce drag through the water most boats have one

through the water most boats have one

through the water most boats have one wide hull to stay balanced but more

wide hull to stay balanced but more

wide hull to stay balanced but more surface area means greater resistance

surface area means greater resistance

surface area means greater resistance against the water a catamaran gets its

against the water a catamaran gets its

against the water a catamaran gets its balance from having two hauls so each

balance from having two hauls so each

balance from having two hauls so each one can be razor fine to slice through

one can be razor fine to slice through

one can be razor fine to slice through the water with ease

today the team must install the forward

today the team must install the forward section of the left halt it’s as large

section of the left halt it’s as large

section of the left halt it’s as large as a motor home the biggest catamaran

as a motor home the biggest catamaran

as a motor home the biggest catamaran bow they’ve ever built

any gaps between the bow and the rest of

any gaps between the bow and the rest of the hall will become catastrophic leaks

the hall will become catastrophic leaks

the hall will become catastrophic leaks when the ferry hits water

but it will lead months until they know

but it will lead months until they know of the seals watertight

barges take a full day to cross the 160

barges take a full day to cross the 160 miles from Maui to a waffle the

miles from Maui to a waffle the

miles from Maui to a waffle the Superferry promises to make the same

Superferry promises to make the same

Superferry promises to make the same trip in just three hours

there’s only one way to get this 1,400

there’s only one way to get this 1,400 tons vessel going fast enough meet the

tons vessel going fast enough meet the

tons vessel going fast enough meet the most powerful high speed diesel engine

most powerful high speed diesel engine

most powerful high speed diesel engine in the world this 20 cylinder powerhouse

in the world this 20 cylinder powerhouse

in the world this 20 cylinder powerhouse packs more punch than 100 cars to reach

packs more punch than 100 cars to reach

packs more punch than 100 cars to reach full speed the Superferry will need 4 of

full speed the Superferry will need 4 of

full speed the Superferry will need 4 of them for a total of 44 thousand

them for a total of 44 thousand

them for a total of 44 thousand horsepower each one weighs a whopping 50

horsepower each one weighs a whopping 50

horsepower each one weighs a whopping 50 tons but that’s still 5 times lighter

tons but that’s still 5 times lighter

tons but that’s still 5 times lighter than a steel ship’s engine

if these new engines perform is promised

if these new engines perform is promised not only will the Superferry be fast

not only will the Superferry be fast

not only will the Superferry be fast enough to appeal to air travelers the

enough to appeal to air travelers the

enough to appeal to air travelers the ferry will be more fuel efficient