Matson Completes the Sale of Two Ships
Matson Navigation Company, Inc. has completed the sale of two combination Ro/Ro /lift-on, lift-off containerships to Sea Star Line, LLC (Sea Star) in Jacksonville, Fla. The vessels, which have been bareboat chartered to Sea Star since the company was formed in 1998, will continue to be deployed in the Puerto Rico trade. The sale to Sea Star, which is owned jointly by SaltChuk Resources, Inc., Matson and Taino Star Investment, Inc., underscores the investors' long term commitment to the line's Puerto Rico service. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu (Nasdaq:ALEX). The two ships, the SSs El Yunque and El Morro, were both built by Sun Ship Building and Dry Dock Company and initially placed in the U.S. Atlantic Coast-Puerto Rico trade.
Sea Star’s Purchase Appoved
Sea Star Line, LLC (Sea Star) announced that its bid to purchase certain assets of Navieras/NPR, Inc. and of certain related entities was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Court also approved the closing date of April 26, 2002. “With this important step we are now moving from the planning phase into the implementation phase,” announced Mike Shea, president, Sea Star.
Tidewater’s O'Malley Officially Steps Down
Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) announced on March 28 that William C. O'Malley, the company's Chairman, President and CEO for most of the past eight years, has officially stepped down as Tidewater's CEO, handing over the reins of leadership to Dean E. Taylor. Taylor, 53, has served as President of Tidewater since October 2001 when O'Malley, 65, announced his impending retirement at the end of March 2002. Taylor's career with Tidewater started in 1978 where he served as an assistant manager in the company's Morgan City, La. office. With his Navy background and business savvy, Taylor gradually worked his way up through Tidewater's ranks to become an executive vice president in December of 2000.
