News Release from Young Brothers

Dear Valued Customer,   December 11, 2023

At Young Brothers, safety and security are of the utmost importance. During a routine inspection conducted by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), an issue was identified with the fire suppression system at the port of Hilo. In the interest of ensuring the safety of our employees and the community, the Port of Hilo will be temporarily closed starting Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and until further notice.

Young Brothers is currently coordinating with the State Department of Transportation Harbors Division and the USCG to swiftly implement temporary mitigation measures, complete emergency repairs, and expedite the resumption of cargo acceptance and availability as soon as possible.

Please stay tuned for forthcoming announcements with special gate hours for cargo availability at the Port of Hilo.

For the most up-to-date information on sailing schedule changes and cargo availability, visit our website at www.youngbrothershawaii.com and sign up for customer notices at www.youngbrothershawaii.com/email-updates/ or follow us on social media @youngbrothershawaii/@youngbrothershi.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely,

Young Brothers, LLC

SA: Problem with emergency system forces Port of Hilo to close

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YB’S PORT OF HILO FACILITIES TEMPORARY CLOSURE UPDATE NO. 1

Dear Valued Customer,

Mahalo for your patience and understanding. Young Brothers’ facilities at the Port of Hilo remain closed until further notice.

As an update, we developed plans with the Hawaii County Fire Department to implement temporary mitigation measures to address the malfunction in our facilities’ fire suppression system. We also submitted these plans to the United States Coast Guard for review.

At the same time, we’re working with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Harbors Division to complete long-term mitigation measures. We hope to be able to resume operations and offer special gate hours for cargo availability at our facilities at the Port of Hilo as soon as possible.

For the most up-to-date information on sailing schedule changes and cargo availability, visit our website at www.youngbrothershawaii.com and sign up for customer notices at www.youngbrothershawaii.com/email-updates/ or follow us on social media @youngbrothershawaii/@youngbrothershi.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely, Young Brothers, LLC

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YB UPDATE #2

Dear Valued Customer,

Mahalo for your patients and understanding.  Young Brothers facility at the Port of Hilo has reopened, effective immediately. Our Hilo facilities will be open until 6:00 p.m. today to allow for the pick-up of all cargo. For customer convenience, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the port will open early at 6:30 a.m.

Cargo acceptance and pick-up availability for sailings to and from the Port of Hilo will return to its normal schedule for the remainder of the week.

For the most up-to-date information on sailing schedule changes and cargo availability, visit our website at www.youngbrothershawaii.com and sign up for customer notices at www.youngbrothershawaii.com/email-updates/ or follow us on social media @youngbrothershawaii/@youngbrothershi.

Mahalo for your patience and we appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely, Young Brothers, LLC

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SA: Young Brothers-averts Hilo-shipping-snafu 

The U.S. Coast Guard, while conducting a routine inspection Monday, found that a fire hydrant closest to its facility was no longer connected to a water source for its fire suppression system, and required its closure Tuesday morning and a suspension of cargo operations.

The DOT said only Young Brothers and Pier 4 were affected by the closure. No other areas at the port or other users had to close, including Matson, Pasha, Par Hawaii, Hawaiian Cement and other passenger/cruise vessels.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Fisher said the fire hydrant near the Young Brothers area was connected to a 1920s-era water tower as its water source but that the county had demobilized that tower.

The company was required to pause its operations until it could find another water source, he said.

Young Brothers resumed operations between 2 and 3 p.m. Tuesday after the Fire Department was able to cover that gap, and the company worked with the Fire Department to develop plans to “implement temporary mitigation measures to address the malfunction in our facilities’ fire suppression system,” Young Bro­thers said.

Hawaii Fire Department Deputy Chief Eric Moller said its East Hawaii Fire Prevention Bureau staff responded to the announcement of the shutdown Tuesday morning and found the port had two hydrants within the area of the one that had the supply problem— one within 500 feet, the other within 145 feet, and within “our ability to lay in a supply line and put a fire out.”

Additionally, the company has a water tank that could likely meet most of its anticipated needs, he said.