Radar system to be offloaded in Maui waters

Published: Jan 22, 2006
Source: www.mauinews.com



LAHAINA – A massive, 13-story-high, floating radar system will be making an appearance probably today off West Maui to be offloaded from its transport ship, an official with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said Friday.

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar is a key component in an American Ballistic Missile Defense System, scheduled for additional maintenance at Pearl Harbor on Oahu before it is moved to its primary station near Adak, Alaska.

But to get the SBX radar system off its transport ship, the MV Blue Marlin, it needs to be in a relatively calm, but deep ocean area – which is the reason it was headed for the Lahaina Roadstead on Friday. It will be an intriguing operation, visible from the shore, said Pam Rogers, a Missile Defense Agency spokeswoman. But she also cautioned that boaters should not approach the Blue Marlin or the SBX at any time while they are in Maui County waters.continue..