HOST MEMBERSHIP MEETING

August 25, 2005

 

 

INTRODUCTIONS

 

Chris Woolaway hosted the meeting

 

AGENDA ITEM #1    Call to Order

 

            Chris called the meeting to order. There were 42 members in attendance.

 

AGENDA ITEM #2      Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning.

 

Chris introduced Dr. David Rezachek, of HSWAC (Hawaii Sea Water Air Conditioning), LLC.  

 

St. Paul , Minnesota is the home of the Parent company of HSWAC.   They have more than 20 years of experience in conceiving, designing, development financing and constructing cold water energy systems.

 

What is seawater Air Conditioning?   Cold sea water is pumped up from a depth of 1,600 to 3,000 feet of depth.   The cold water is around 42 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.   It goes through a heat exchange where it cools a closed circuit re-circulating fresh water system.    This is what cools the rooms.   Because there is a slight warming of the seawater it is chilled slightly before being returning to sea.   The sea water is then returned to the ocean where it is rapidly mixed with the sea water.

 

Why SWSAC

 

•           Cold seawater is free, accessible and renewable

•           SWAC provides reduced and stable air conditioning costs.

•           Has a number of environmental benefits.

 

It is not a new technology.   It is used in many areas around the world including Toronto , New Brunswick , and Cornell University among others.

 

The proposed Honolulu system would be about a 25,000 ton system.  It could serve up to about 65 buildings.   Currently there are 5 major deep water pipelines in Hawaii that were developed between 1979 and 2001.

 

The pipes are made out of HDPE.   In a 63 inch pipe the wall thickness is about 3” thick the pipes are heat fused together.   These “welds” are as strong as the parent material.    Concrete anchors hold the pipe to the bottom.  Under water life expectancy could be as much as 100 years.

 

Installation will be from the shore using directional horizontal drilling to a depth of about 30 to 40 feet deep at a region outside of the near shore coral reef area.   This may be a distance of about ½ mile offshore.  Then the cement anchors will hold the pipeline just above the ocean bottom.

 

All the pipes will be either under ground or under water.   The only visible structure will be the pumping station.    This will be housed in a parking structure.   Various buildings will be connected to the system via pipes.   They are currently completing an archeological survey of the distribution route.    These distribution pipes will be about 3 to 3.5 feet of depth.   The supply pipe will be insulated.   These pipes are around 10 inches in diameter.

 

This system is estimated to say about 145,000 barrels of oil per year.  It should also say about 265,000 gallons of potable water per year which used in energy production process cooling towers.    These evaporate potable water to cool production processes.    This will be a two day savings of potable water for all of Oahu .

 

This system will also help City and State governments to meet goals and mandates for energy efficiency improvements.   The 25,000 ton HSWAC project will eliminate the need for up to 17 megawatts of new generation.   Currently new generation plants are running behind demand.    This will ease the development crunch.   It is also expected that electrical rates are going to continue to climb, perhaps as much as double over the life expectancy of the project.     In a SWAC system about 80 percent of their costs are fixed operational costs that are predictable.    Oil based cooling systems are cheaper to install but their long term operating costs are tied to the price of oil and far more expensive and less predictable.

 

Secondary benefits include the potential of using the return water as process cooling water for the downtown power plant for example.  

 

$80,000,000 in bonds is being requested from the State.   In all, the initial capital installation costs are estimated to be about $120,000,000.    Additional bonds have been secured and customers are being asked to commit to a 20 year contract to guarantee the bonds.   The buildings internal infrastructure will require very little change.    Some connection capitalization may be required but HECO is providing a $200 per water ton rebate to help offset these capitalization costs.

 

AGENDA ITEM #3    Joe Curtis - Seafarer’s Training Center

 

Joe runs the training center at Barber’s Point for the Seafarer’s Union .   It is now in place and has been running for about 6 months.   They have 3 full time employees and about 20 part time employees.    They are located at the former Barber’s Point Naval Air Station.    Right now their main focus is training employees of the NCL.   They teach any required USCG Course.   This includes the basic 40- hour Basic Safety training and Basic Fire Fighting.

 

They have air conditioned class rooms available, one for 36 and another for 50 participants.   This is an extension of the main training center located in Maryland .

 

They have a burn building that simulates and engine room fire with the ability to demonstrate a roll over.    They can also simulate Bridge and Galley fires.    All of their water is recycled.    They also have a helicopter fire simulation prop.    They have a 50,000 gallon pool in which they conduct “Life Raft” classes and Survival Suit training.   They can also conduct “Damage Control” training to teach techniques for plugging holes in the hull.

 

As long as the cruise ship interest in Hawaii remains high they will continue to grow.    They are willing to work with any group that has a training interest.     Joe invited us out to have a General Membership meeting at the Training Center where he can demonstrate some of the training props.

 

They are licensed to teach as many as 100 people at a time.    They have recently conducted some training for NOAA.

 

AGENDA ITEM #4     Ward Graessle, Offshore Marine Surveyors - Casitas

            Grounding

 

Ward Graessle served as the owner’s agent during the salvage operation, and showed photos of the grounding and salvage operation.

 

The 145 ft. Casitas ran aground on July 2^nd, on Pearl and Hermes Reef.  They were on a charter by NOAA to recover derelict fishing nets in the remote Hawaiian Islands . 

 

Approximately 30,000 gallons were removed fairly early on by the USCG Cutter Walnut.    Also, there was about 10,000 gallons of gasoline in drums stored in a container on the deck.

 

They were right on the edge of the reef.    On the inboard side the depth varied between 1 to 2 feet.     On the outboard side it was about 12 feet and the depth dropped off gradually.    

 

The only pollution was from the internal diesel day tank that leaked into the engine room.     This tank was emptied by the crew to attain source control.   They hydrocarbons on board were successfully removed during the salvage.

 

Once oil was removed from the vessel sea water was back filled with sea water to ballast the vessel down to seat it firmly on the reef.    This helps to minimize reef damage.  

 

American Marine was hired to conduct the salvage.   They brought in a barge that was ideally configured to conduct pulling/salvage operations.   This barge was on its way back to Hawaii from a project in Alaska .   It was diverted to Pearl and Hermes Reef.    This barge has about 200 tons of bollard pulling power.   The salvage team had to be completely self sufficient.   They were able to obtain a USCG waver that enabled the salvage crew to stay on the barge.    This was important as this enable 24 hour monitoring of the barge.

 

Chris Woolaway announced as a side note, that the work that the Casitas was undertaking derelict net recovery.    This was that last year for funding for this project.    NOAA has contracted with another vessel to continue this work.   In addition, the USCG Cutters Kukui and Walnut will complete their portion of the work.  

 

AGENDA ITEM #5    USCG Concerns   Captain Brown reported that he had no announcements.

 

Announcements.

 

Richard Rice, of DBOR, announced that DLNR received funding for the Kahului Boat ramp work.    This was to be a triple wide boat ramp.  When they opened the bids last year they discovered they were short of funding.    Lobbying efforts at the Legislature were successful in getting the additional funds to complete this project.   Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor on Kauai has also received funding to construct a boat ramp.

           

Bill Davis from State Harbors announced that funding has been approved to construct a boat ramp, docks and toilet facilities at the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor .    Hopefully this work will be complete by 2007 and the recreational vessel will be relocated out of the commercial area.