This report provides the result of data analysis designed to obtain a general idea of vessel traffic in the Hawaiian Islands. Vessel traffic is a difficult question to answer precisely. No agency that I have found comprehensively collects current data on all movements of all vessels in a computer database. Several agencies collect vessel transit information geared to their individual needs. At best, it is difficult to merge different databases because consistent unique methods are not used to identify vessels and voyages.
Some agencies count every vessel movement including in harbor movements.
Complicating the problem is the fact that although a piece of information may be desired or requested, it is not always entered. We were unable to answer this question because less than one-half of one percent of the last foreign ports entered into the database. The MSO has recognized the problem and after some analysis made the commitment to collect data in one electronic format beginning with all vessel transit information for arrivals as of 1 July 1998. By ensuring that we know what data we want captured, we can insure that it is collected throughout the year and available. This effort is underway now, thanks to partnering with the State of Hawaii, USN, vessel agents and others.