Horizon to Increase Hawaii Port Calls and Capacity

The Pacific Business has reported that Horizon Lines, in a bid to increase its market share here, will add one more port call and increase its cargo-carrying capacity in and out of Honolulu starting next year. The changes to the Hawaii service are part of a companywide drive to add new vessels and increase company earnings by a projected $30 million by 2010. Horizon has a market share of 35 percent in Hawaii, with Matson Navigation Co. controlling the rest of the cargo between Hawaii and the Mainland. Horizon said it plans to bring two ships, now in its trans-Pacific service, to the Hawaii route. In addition, the Charlotte, N.C.-based shipping company will charter five new U.S.-flagged vessels being built in Korea for its Asia-West Coast routes at a cost of $280 million. These ships will be routed through Hawaii, which will get one additional call a week. Currently, Horizon Lines makes two port calls a week in Honolulu. As a result of the fleet change, Hawaii will get ships that can carry more 40-foot cargo containers, the company said. Horizon Lines also is doing extensive work at its terminal at Honolulu Harbor to handle the expansion. Some of the projects include hardening the container yard and raising the height of its three cranes so they can offload taller stacks of containers. Source: Pacific Business News