HONOLULU -- Hawaii Superferry is expected to announce on Friday when it plans to resume operations -- two days after a Maui judge dissolved the injunction barring the ferry from going to the Valley Isle.

The Coast Guard said it is looking at setting up a much larger security zone at Kahului Harbor.

KITV's Keoki Kerr reported that the Coast Guard expanded the security zone around the Superferry for the harbor on Kaua'i already, which now may happen on Maui.

The Coast Guard, the Superferry, the state and counties want to avoid a repeat of when protesters on surfboards and bodyboards blocked the ferry from entering Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai in August.

"We're not necessarily gearing up for a confrontation. We're expecting things to go in an orderly manner, and hopefully, that will be the case," State Transportation Director Barry Fukunaga said.

Now that a judge has allowed the Superferry to sail to and from Maui again, the Coast Guard is looking at expanding the security zone from the 100-yard radius around the vessel, which is difficult to enforce.

A Coast Guard spokesman said a portion or all of Kahului Harbor could be included in the security zone.

"We'd have to make sure that whatever is done is done in a manner that doesn't create a bigger problem than it actually should," Fukunaga said.

The Coast Guard said it will meet with other harbor users, like barge and tug operators, canoe clubs and cruise ship companies, to try to minimize their inconvenience, while setting up an enforceable area that's off-limits to protesters while also creating places on shore where protesters can assemble legally.

"We're at the point now where a lot of people understand what has been done. The law has been passed. The judge has ruled. We don't expect any really significant problems either there or at Nawiliwili," Fukunaga said.

On Kauai in August, protesters in the water out-maneuvered Coast Guard vessels. Now, the Coast Guard said there's a "good possibility" it will bring in personnel and small boats from the mainland to both Maui and Kauai to ensure protesters don't block the ferry.

The Coast Guard said if it extends a security zone at Kahului, it will announce the plans with enough time before the Superferry's sail date to give harbor users time to adjust to the changes.