HST - High Speed Transport
The High Speed Transport is a high-speed, shallow-draft surface vessel designed for intra-theater transport of personnel and medium payloads for the Joint Force. High-speed transport vessels acquired by the Navy also belong to MSC. USNS Guam (HST 1), formerly MV Huakai, replaced the high-speed vessel Westpac Express, whose mission is to transport military personnel and cargo for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force between Okinawa and other U.S. Pacific Command training sites.
HST 2, formerly MV Alakai, is on an Enhanced Use Lease in Nova Scotia. As a result of this lease, the name "Puerto Rico" was transfered to a newly built vessel of the similar Spearhead class. Though HST-2 remains the property of the US Navy, it does not have a name. On 27 April 2019, in Okinawa, Japan, Bruni Bradley, a 25-year Navy veteran and wife of U.S. ambassador to South Korea Harry B. Harris Jr., christened the USNS Guam.
Puerto Rico and Guam names were awefully big names for rather small ships. In the old days, the US Navy actually had a naming taxonomy under which the name of the ship readily conveyed the type of ship. Battleships were named after states, and cruisers were named after cities [big cities for heavy cruisers, smaller cities for light cruisers, and so on]. During World War II, the US Navy briefly operated a class of battlecruisers, which were named after territories. Of teh six units of the CB-1 Alaska class, only the first two were commissioned, while the others were broken up on stocks. The CB--2 Guna was comissioned in September of 1944, while the CB-5 Puerto Rico was scrapped before comissioning.
The "high speed transport" class nomenclature was previously used during World War II for destroyers converted to a high-speed transport, redesignated APD. Initially their duties consisted primarily of escorting coastal convoys from point to point along the eastern seaboard and to various bases in the Caribbean.
The Guadalcanal campaign was unique among the amphibious operations conducted in the Pacific during World War II. Neither the United States nor Japan enjoyed the overwhelming naval superiority which in almost every other case ensured victory for the greater force. Relative equality made the naval forces of each side a constant threat to the supply lines of the other. Consequently, both sides relied upon the high-speed transport, converted destroyers like Stringham, which were well armed for transports and fast enough to evade more powerfully armed warships. While the contribution of the larger elements of the American Fleet cannot be overlooked, the struggle for Guadalcanal was to a great extent the battle of the high-speed transport. Stringham and her sister APD's succeeded where their Japanese counterparts failed. They kept the Marines supplied.
Two high-speed transports, were designed and built by Austal USA as commercial passenger vessels for Hawaii Superferry and were named MV Huakai and MV Alakai. They were originally built for Hawaii Super Ferry to serve as passenger and vehicle ferries in Hawaii but were turned over to the Maritime Administration's custody in 2009 when the ferry service went bankrupt. The US Navy re-named the Hawaiian Superferries USNS Guam and USNS Puerto Rico.
These vessels are similar to the Expeditionary Fast Transport class, designed for rapid, intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment. Each EPF has a reconfigurable 20,000 square-foot mission bay that can quickly adapt to support a number of different missions from carrying containerized portable hospitals and dry cargo for humanitarian aid/disaster relief, to transporting tanks and general dry cargo. The design features a flight deck capable of landing a CH-53 helicopter [not featured on the High Speed Transport], a stern ramp for vehicle access to the mission deck, and seating for 312 passengers. These vessels are crewed by civilian mariners while military personnel embark as required by mission sponsors.
At wave heights of 2 meters, the ship needs to slow to 15 knots or less, and at 3 meters, the ship can transit at only 5 knots or less. The US Navy spent millions of dollars to repair the new ships, including the Spearhead, because their weak bows can't stand buffeting from high seas. Compromises in the bow structure, presumably to save on weight, were accepted when building these ships. Multiple ships of the class have suffered damage to the bow structure and repairs/reinforcements are in progress class wide. The entire ship class requires reinforcing structure for the bow structure in the forepeak space, which is the forward structure of the ship between the two hulls.
The Hawaii interisland superferry began running interisland ferry service on December 13th, 2007 and shut down all inter-island service on March 19th, 2009. The Hawaii Superferry had planned on runnning routes between Oahu, Maui, Big Island and Kauai. For the present time, the Hawaii Superferry will no longer offer service in Hawaii due to a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that struck down a new law allowing service without an Environmental Impact Report.
The catamaran-style vessel was well-suited for Hawaiian ocean conditions to provide a smooth and stable ride. Built by Austal, one of the world’s largest builders of fast ferries, the vessels incorporate the most advanced marine technology and safety standards. One of the most important features is the ferry’s catamaran design - inspired by Polynesian double-hulled canoes - which enables family-friendly, high-speed transport over Hawaii's open ocean waters.
While in service with Hawaii Super Ferry, the 350-foot long Alakai accommodated up to 800 passengers. It is built for speed and comfort. Best of all, there is plenty of room to move about freely throughout the vessel. Passengers could walk around, go exploring, and find the perfect spot for the onboard experience. A cheerful décor enhances the mood and environment in which to enjoy the voyage. There were no reserved seating assignments. Passengers could choose relaxing leather sofas, comfortable reclining armchairs, or restaurant-type dining seats. Armchairs along the sides and quiet nooks are also available for computer-users who want to take the time to catch up on work.
The observation deck is located at the aft of the vessel, where passengers could enjoy fresh air and unobstructed views. They could also marvel at the foamy wake churned out below by our four 12,000 horsepower jet engines. Whether it’s an extended stay or a day trip, the Ferrycould accommodate a variety of passenger and commercial vehicles. Passengers drive their vehicles on and off the ferry and remain onboard during the voyage. Vehicles disembark from the vessel immediately upon docking at the destination port.
The ramp and mission bay can accommodate both wheeled and tracked vehicles up to and including a combat-loaded M1A2 battle tank. The mission bay also can host 20-foot equivalent containers, including those that require power and data connections.
The HST is easily moved by the wind when stationary with its engines declutched, as it is a light, shallow-draft vessel with a large amount of sail area. Mariners refer to a ship's sail area when discussing how the vessel is influenced hy the wind, and HST has a boxy structure that presents vertical flat areas on all sides that catch the wind. The shaUow draft, small mass and boxy structure of JHSV makes it vulnerable to the wind, especially when not under power.
High-speed ferry ships MV Huakai and MV Alakai sailed to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to provide disaster relief following the 12 January 2010 earthquake. The ships were under operational control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) during Operation Unified Response. The ships' main tasks was to transfer equipment and personnel in the region. They are configured for the mission to each hold 450 tons of cargo and 500 passengers and can travel at a sustained speed of 33 knots.
Huakai loaded a rapid port opening package, communications gear, fork lifts, trucks, Humvees, supplies and other equipment at Fort Eustis, Va., Jan. 27. Huakai also carried personnel from the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element, MSC's Expeditionary Port Unit Detachment and elements from the Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade. Huakai got underway Jan. 27 and is scheduled to arrive in Haiti Jan. 29. Huakai and Alakai are two of 12 ships under MSC control mobilized to date in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti.
Acquired by the Navy from the Department of Transportation in 2012, Guam was expected to replace Westpac Express. In 2013, high-speed transport USNS Guam, a former Hawaiian superferry, completed its modifications and upgrades and replaced MSC-chartered Westpac Express as the primary transport for U.S. Marines and their equipment in the Western Pacific Ocean.
HST 1, owned by Military Sealift Command as the USNS Guam and previously known as MV Huakai, supported humanitarian relief operations in Haiti during Operation Unified Response in 2010. HST 1 entered a shipyard to accomplish mission required modifications to bring the vessel in class and is expected to support the III Marine Expeditionary Force mission in the Western Pacific beginning in FY17.
HST 2 (ex-USNS Puerto Rico, ex-MV Alakai) was transferred to the U.S. Navy from the Maritime Administration in January 2012 and remained under caretaker status in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Defense Authorization Act of 2012 provided that "The Secretary of the Navy may, subject to appropriations, from funds available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2012, provide to the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 for the transfer by the Maritime Administration to the Department of the Navy of jurisdiction and control over… M/V HUAKAI… [and]… M/V ALAKAI… [to be] administered as a Department of Defense sealift vessel…”"
On 08 May 2012 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the names of the Navy’s recently acquired high speed ferries (HSFs); the USNS Guam and the USNS Puerto Rico.
The selection of the name Guam honored the long-standing historical and military relationship between Guam and the United States. This relationship began in 1898 when the United States acquired the island from Spain as a result of the “Treaty of Paris” that ended the Spanish-American War. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese captured Guam which they occupied until U.S. troops retook the island on July 21, 1944, a date commemorated every year as “Liberation Day”. Guam continues to host many of the United States’ critical military installations in the Pacific Ocean.
Selection of the name Puerto Rico honored the association of Puerto Rico and the United States that dates back to 1898 when Spain ceded control of the island in the Treaty of Paris. Although the initial intent was for the island to serve as a location for rest, coaling and repair stations for the Navy, Puerto Rico has formed a close relationship with the United States. Numerous Puerto Ricans have served proudly and the territory has been home to five Medal of Honor recipients -- Fernando L. Garcia, Carlos James Lozada, Euripides Rubio, Hector Santiago-Colon and Humbert Roque Versace.
The Office of the Secretary of the Navy approved an Enhanced Use Lease of a high-speed transport vessel to Bay Ferries, Ltd., 24 March 2016. HST 2, owned by Military Sealift Command, was leased to Bay Ferries, Ltd., a Canadian company, to operate ferry service between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The lease was for an 18-month period between June - October, 2016 and 2017 with two one-year options after the first two years. At the end of the lease HST 2 will return to the U.S.
The U.S. Navy found HST 2 to be a non-excess, but underused, property and found an opportunity to lease the vessel which will benefit the U.S. Navy. For example, Bay Ferries Ltd. paid for all repairs necessary for HST 2 to obtain its U.S. Coast Guard certificate of inspection. Additionally, while the vessel was leased to a Canadian company, the U.S Navy required that HST 2 remains U.S. flagged, crewed by U.S. citizens, maintains a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of inspection, and all work bringing HST 2 into class would be conducted in U.S. shipyards.
Because the vessel was US-flagged and must remain so during the charter, US law requires that The CAT use a US crew. Seaward Services Inc., a US company, provides onboard crewing and custodial care for the ship for the US Military Sealift Command. Fuel and most supplies will be purchased in Nova Scotia, and vessel maintenance will be undertaken by a Canadian crew based in Nova Scotia.
After more than six years since the previous CAT was in service, BayFerries research indicated that The CAT brand still resonated with travelers throughout the North Eastern United States. There was extraordinary brand recognition throughout New England (one Boston survey indicated 88% recognition – and The CAT continued to attract strong internet search traffic six years after closure of the previous business) – and the company continued to market other ferry services in New England.
The two ships branded as The CAT moved nearly 1.7 million people between Maine and Nova Scotia over 12 seasons. High-speed ferries and conventional ferries each have well-documented strengths and weaknesses. This catamaran has a slightly different hull form which is the same hull form used by the US Navy in its class of Joint High-Speed Vessels. It has a higher “tunnel clearance” and performs differently in certain sea conditions but, when the ocean is rough, so are most vessels.
The fastest way to get from Maine to Nova Scotia is The CAT. Passenger capacity on The CAT is at least 700 passengers, and vehicle capacity is in excess of 200 regular passenger vehicles. The distance between Bar Harbor, ME and Yarmouth, NS is 98 nautical miles. Estimated crossing time is 3.5 hours. There are three access points to the outside: two side decks, which can be found at the top of two stairwells and lead to/from the vehicle deck, and a large deck at the stern (back) of the ship.
The CAT came back home to Bar Harbor in 2019. From the 2020 season going forward, BayFerries anticipated the operating season would commence around Memorial Day weekend (last weekend of May). This year the company undertook a substantial rebuilding of the Bar Harbor ferry terminal to prepare for the return of The CAT. Our scheduled season start for 2019 was, therefore, June 21. The high-speed CAT ferry travels between Bar Harbor, ME and Yarmouth, NS in just 3.5 hours. RVs, pickups, SUVs, cars, tour buses, motorcycles, and bicycles are welcome aboard The CAT—and walk-on passengers. This is a journey that 96% of travelers say they would recommend to their friends.
Austal celebrated the christening of Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) the future USNS Puerto Rico (EPF 11) with a ceremony at its state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility 10 November 2018. Puerto Rico is the eleventh of 12 EPFs that Austal has under contract with the U.S. Navy with a combined value of over $1.9 billion. Nine Spearhead-class EPFs had been delivered and were serving as an affordable solution to fulfilling the Military Sealift Command’s requirements worldwide. The future USNS Burlington was scheduled for delivery to the Navy later this month and two more EPFs, including EPF 11, were under construction at Austal’s Mobile, AL shipyard.
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