RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, as the shipping and cruise industry continue to grow in Hawaii, so does the need to repair many of the maritime vessels used in providing and servicing these industries; and

WHEREAS, for over 70 years, Pier 41 has continuously served as a shipyard location for Honolulu Harbor, providing vital services to Hawaii's maritime community; and

WHEREAS, located at Pier 41, Pacific Shipyards International is the only commercial shipyard and repair facility currently operating in Honolulu Harbor; and

WHEREAS, trans-ocean and inter-island transportation and shipping companies, as well as numerous other maritime industry companies operating out of Honolulu Harbor have come to rely on the convenience and cost savings provided by a readily available and easily accessible ship-servicing facility in Honolulu Harbor where many of these vessels berth; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources authorized a ten-year lease on March 28, 2003 for Pacific Shipyards International to continue to operate at Pier 41; and

WHEREAS, Honolulu Harbor is in need of a ship repair facility and Pier 41 is the only available facility; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation is requested to proceed with executing the ten-year lease approved by the Department of Land and Natural Resources for Pacific Shipyards International to continue to provide vital ship repair services to the maritime community from its existing Honolulu Harbor facility at Pier 41, or failing that, to find and designate another suitable location for a shipyard and dry-docks within Honolulu Harbor where Pacific Shipyards International can be located; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Director of Land and Natural Resources, and President of Pacific Shipyards International.

Report Title:

Requesting the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to proceed with executing the ten-year lease approved by the Department of Land and Natural Resources for Pacific Shipyards International to continue to provide vital ship repair services to the maritime community from its existing Honolulu Harbor facility.