Matson Resumes Hawaii Cargo Ops

The US-based container carrier Matson Navigation Company has resumed full cargo operations to all of its Hawaii terminals.

The move follows the Hawaii State Department of Transportation’s reopening of Big Island ports to commercial operations on August 24 and Oahu, Maui and Kauai ports the following day.

As informed, Matson continued to sail its vessel schedule between the West Coast and Hawaii as normal throughout preparations for Hurricane Lane in an effort to position cargo for distribution as soon as possible following the reopening of Hawaii ports.

On Saturday, the company implemented a service recovery plan that has five of its containerships carrying a combined 3,500 loaded containers scheduled for discharge at the Honolulu hub terminal between August 25 and 29.

The company also resumed service to Hawaii in the morning hours of August 25, when its barge Columbia arrived in Hilo at 7:00 a.m. with 117 containers onboard.

In addition, Matson’s barge Haleakala docked at Kahului at noon that day, carrying 87 loaded containers.

The company’s vessel Mahimahi returned to Honolulu at 11:00 am also on Saturday, two hours after the port reopened, to discharge the balance of its cargo, 615 containers, having already delivered 537 containers before the port closed on August 23.

Matson also dispatched its barge Waialeale from Honolulu to the port of Nawiliwili with 60 containers aboard which arrived on Sunday.