Ho’omaika’i ‘Ana (Congratulations) to the Hōkūle’a and her crew on the successful and safe epic three-year undertaking of the Mālama Honua (caring for Island Earth) Worldwide Voyage on all of the legs of this unprecedented global circumnavigation of a wa’a (canoe).
The Mālama Honua sail plan included port calls to more than 150 ports, 23 countries and territories, and eight of UNESCO’S Marine World Heritage sites, engaging local communities and practicing how to live sustainably.
It is a vision realized that exceeded any expectations in accomplishing a myriad of elements to include, but was not limited to; demonstrating well-conceived and executed traditional Polynesian wayfinding, educational programs and a heightened awareness of critical environmental issues, concerns regarding climate change, depletion of finite marine resources, and the paramount need to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems with achievable and sustainable initiatives.
The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage has served as the catalyst with global partners in a collective commitment and sense of urgency, coupled with the realization for the commonly shared concerns we have for our one ocean that connects all of us and sustains life.
The traditional double-hulled wa’a (canoe) has returned to homecoming celebrations in Hawai’i greeted by a gathering of nearly 50,000 people to celebrate the Hōkūle’a and Polynesia Voyaging Society’s accomplishments the past 40+ years and the conclusion of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage.
As a global consultancy we are proud to have played our part in the iconic vessel’s historic voyage of discovery.
The Maritime Group (TMG) Pacific helped to provide logistics support for the Hōkūleʻa and her safety escort vessel, Gershon II – including critical logistical support/supplies, nautical/weather routing guidance, assisting with arrangements with port agents and officials, and ensuring the safety of the craft and crew worldwide for the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
This included helping with the Hōkūleʻa passage across the Indian Ocean with its port calls to South Africa, arrangements for a port call at the British Overseas Territory of St Helena in the mid- Atlantic to gather supplies before the Hōkūle’a made the trans-Atlantic crossing to Brazil, in addition to assisting with the planning and logistics support for the Hōkūle’a transit of the Panama Canal and return to Pacific waters.
Hōkūleʻa, meaning ‘Star of Gladness’ and the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus, and her crew entered the marina at Honolulu’s Magic Island peninsula on Saturday June 17, 2017.
Her crew have sailed more than 42,000 nautical miles (77,800 kilometres) since their departure from the island of Oahu, Hawai’i in May of 2014.
Their aim was to use only ancient methods of wayfinding – reading the stars, winds and waves – just as the first Polynesian settlers who reached the archipelago did hundreds of years ago.
Bill Anonsen, Hawaii-based managing partner/principal of TMG Pacific and a member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, has previously described the Hōkūleʻa as a ‘symbol of inspiration, demonstrated in the spirit of exploration and rediscovery thorough a resurgence of traditional ocean voyaging and navigation’.
Bill shared that, ‘It is a vision realized that exceeded any expectations in accomplishing a myriad of elements to include, but was not limited to; demonstrating well-conceived and executed traditional Polynesian wayfinding, educational programs and a heightened awareness of critical environmental issues, concerns regarding climate change, depletion of finite marine resources, and the paramount need to protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems with achievable and sustainable initiatives.
The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage has served as the catalyst with global partners in a collective commitment and sense of urgency, coupled with the realization for the commonly shared concerns we have for our one ocean that connects all of us and sustains life.’ He added that all at TMG were honored to be playing our part in providing nautical and logistical guidance in support of the Hōkūleʻa.
Read more about her homecoming in a news story on the UK’s Daily Telegraph website.
Our Managing Director Malcolm W Parrott met with Mr Benjamin Ross, Chief Executive Officer of Bedy Ocean Line, in Panama.
They agreed in principal that TMG would operate and manage any service set up by Bedy Ocean Line in the Caribbean.
We look forward to working closely with Mr Ross and Bedy Ocean Line in the forthcoming future and for many years ahead.
Bedy Ocean Line is based in Grenada, WI.
We’ve recorded our busiest start to a year so far with rising demand for our services worldwide in 2017.
Our professional and friendly team have lined up contracts across multiple sectors after a surge of interest in in January.
Targeted projects cover ferry and cruise operations, port management, marine surveys, feasibility studies and maritime and border security.
Although the maritime market is toughening in certain sectors, there are still myriad opportunities available.
Our clients tell us they are seeking services which give them the competitive edge to develop and win new business.
We are seeing an increasing trend for the outsourcing of specialist services to ensure the most cost-effective solution for any given project.
Recent investment in our own business has helped us to our busiest first month of the year with extensive negotiations, proposals and expressions of interest for major projects.
It is an extremely positive and exciting time as we look forward to helping more businesses and organisations succeed in the maritime sector during 2017.
We’re bidding for work in the Caribbean, Mauritius, the Far East, the Middle East, East Africa, the Americas, Russia, the UK and Europe.
The latest successes come after significant developments at TMG.
We recently appointed experienced commercial manager Kevin Hawes as our Business Development Manager and Senior Consultant based in London.
We’ve also launched this website and gained ISO 9001 quality accreditation. Last year we joined forces with resilience management specialists State 21 and aligned with international security provider Bowline Defence Ltd.
We are also carrying out joint proposals with HSOG Limited/Graham & Woolnough Limited and Arup Limited.
For more details please call + 44 (800) 9551792 or +1 (260) 225 5864 or email info@the-maritime-group.com.