Hornblower Marine Services Announces New Passenger-Only Commuter Ferry Service in Honolulu

Bainbridge Island, WA, August 31, 2007 — Hornblower Marine Services announced today a new option for Honolulu commuters—"TheBoat." Beginning September 17th, Hornblower Marine Services (HMS) will operate passenger-only ferry service between Oahu's leeward side to downtown Honolulu. The commuter ferry is an extension of Honolulu's transit service, TheBus.

HMS's subsidiary, HMS-Pac Nav, Inc. of Bainbridge Island, Washington, has undertaken this demonstration project in cooperation with The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) for the City and County of Honolulu. The new ferry service will operate in conjunction with the Oahu Transit Services group (TheBus) who will provide dedicated shuttle service to and from the ferry terminals.

"This passenger-only service is designed specifically for Oahu's commuters and is not to be confused with Hawaii's new inter-island SuperFerry," says John Sainsbury, General Manager of HMS-Pac Nav. "While ferry-based commutes are common in cities such as San Francisco and Seattle, Honolulu has traditionally relied upon land-based services. As Oahu's population has increased so have the commuter problems, which is why we're proud to offer this service as a transportation option to area residents."

About the service: The route will be serviced by two 149-passenger, HMS-chartered vessels, the Rachel Marie and the Melisa Ann. Service is offered Monday through Friday with three morning and three afternoon roundtrip departures originating from Barbers Point to downtown Honolulu's Aloha Tower Marketplace. Schedules and additional information can be found at www.trytheboat.com. Photographs and media-related items can be downloaded at www.trytheboat.com/pressroom.