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Committee advances bill exempting wing‑in‑ground "sea gliders" from water‑carrier oversight amid safety and public‑comment concerns
Summary
The House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee voted April 1 to pass SB 2400, which exempts wing‑in‑ground passenger craft ("sea gliders") from the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Proponents said federal agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard will handle safety oversight; some members registered reservations about loss of PUC oversight and public‑comment avenues.
The House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce on April 1 voted to pass SB 2400, a bill that would exempt wing‑in‑ground craft used to transport passengers from the Hawaii Water Carrier Act and formally define that class of craft.
Michael Purl, regional director for North America at Regent Craft and a representative of the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative, said the craft would operate in a narrow "ground‑effect" envelope and that certification and safety protocols are being developed directly with the U.S. Coast Guard. "It's considered a type A wing‑in‑ground effect vessel," Purl said, noting the design has a roughly 65‑foot wingspan and typically operates about 40–50 feet above the water while reading wave…
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