The state Department of Transportation and groups with concerns about the environmental impacts of the Hawaii Superferry vessel are preparing for the new interisland service's relaunch this week.

Foul weather did not interrupt repairs to Kahului Harbor's Pier 2, where the ferry will be docking, said Michael Formby, head of the DOT Harbors Division.

Storm-related damage to the pier and a state-owned barge used to load and unload vehicles from the 350-foot ship forced Hawaii Superferry to postpone its launch by a week, with service to resume Thursday.

Formby said concrete pouring was scheduled for Saturday for replacement of a plate bollard uprooted during unusually high ocean surges in the harbor. The concrete can cure in the rain, he said, and a post-type bollard that was lost during the same incident also will be replaced.

The ferry barge, which suffered minor damage from bumping up against the pier, was inspected and repairs are being scheduled, he said.

The DOT has to make a commitment to the Coast Guard by today that the facilities will be ready, and Formby said he is optimistic that will happen.

"We continue to work with the Coast Guard in anticipation we will have the pier ready for the commencement of operations on Thursday," he said.

Hawaii Superferry will offer a daily roundtrip between O'ahu and Maui, leaving Honolulu at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in Kahului at 10:15 a.m.

The ferry will depart Kahului at 11:15 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 2:15 p.m.

The cruise to Maui takes more time than the return because the company's high-speed catamaran, the Alakai, will be traveling into the wind. Although the ferry plans to travel north of Moloka'i, extra time also was budgeted for instances when the vessel must take a southerly route through shallower humpback whale sanctuary waters that require slower speeds, said Terry O'Halloran, director of business development for Hawaii Superferry.

Groups planning protest rallies have had to change their plans as the date for the ferry start-up has changed.

A Rally for Maui — Let Your Voice Be Heard will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Ka'ahumanu and Pu'unene avenues in Kahului, near the Hawaii Supeferry site.

Organizers, which include the Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Save Kahului Harbor and the Pacific Whale Foundation, say the rally is meant for people "to speak out for the 'aina, Maui and Hawai'i's environmental law." The groups are urging participants to engage only in legal and nonviolent activities.

Picketers also are expected when the ferry arrives Thursday.

County police, state law enforcement and the Coast Guard are expected to be out in force to clamp down on any attempts to prevent the ferry from docking. The Coast Guard has established a security zone that prohibits anyone from entering harbor waters from an hour before the ferry's arrival until 10 minutes after its departure.

A narrow stretch of nearshore waters along the beach by the canoe hale and hotels has been left open for swimmers, paddlers and fishermen.

A moving security zone will extend 100 yards around the Alakai and will be activated whenever the ferry is within three nautical miles of the harbor entrance. The zone moves with the vessel and remains in effect when the ferry is moored, anchored or idle.

Violation of either security zone is a federal felony and may result in 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000, civil penalties of up to $32,500 per violation, and forfeiture of any vessel, including canoes and surfboards.

Boaters wanting to travel through the fixed security zone while it is activated may contact the captain of the port, Honolulu, at 808-927-0865, or on VHF Channel 12.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.