Hawaii Superferry officials said they used standard operating procedures when its high-speed catamaran encountered humpback whales on its morning voyage yesterday from Honolulu to Kahului Harbor.

The 350-foot Alakai did not hit any whales, according to company officials and passengers interviewed by The Advertiser.

The Alakai turned away from a whale and came to a complete stop, part of its normal procedures in avoiding collisions, according to the company. The vessel completed its trip and arrived at its usual time at Kahului Harbor just before 10 a.m.

First-time passenger Jim Ahrens of Reno, Nev., said the Alakai's captain announced to passengers that the vessel was slowing because whales were spotted nearby. He said passengers, for the most part, weren't affected by the maneuver. "It was a fun ride," he said of the voyage.

Another ferry passenger called a federal marine animal stranding hot line to report a possible whale strike near Penguin Bank, southwest of Moloka'i, at about 8:30 a.m., according to NOAA Fisheries spokeswoman Wende Goo.

Coincidentally, a NOAA law enforcement officer was on board the Alakai, and, based on his interviews with the captain and passengers, there is not enough evidence to warrant further investigation of a possible whale strike, Goo said.

"It was a very close call. They're very lucky," said Naomi McIntosh, superintendent of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. "This is a good reminder to everyone that whales are definitely out there and that we're heading into the peak season ... all boaters need to pay close attention to where the whales are."