Matson Navigation will expand its involvement in China, adding a second transpacific string that will call South China ports, according to Manila Bulletin.
Chris Dupin of American Shipper reported that Matson would charter five foreign-flag ships with average capacity of about 3,500 TEUs, and operate them in a Hong Kong, Shenzen, Shanghai, Long Beach, Hong Kong rotation.
Matson launched a service from North China to Long Beach in February 2006 using five US-flag ships with capacity ranging from 2,200 TEUs to 2,600 TEUs That link also serves Hawaii and Guam on their western legs.
The new ships are not eligible to trade in the Jones Act between the mainland and Hawaii Guam because they were not US built nor do they employ US mariners.
Matson would bring ships into the service in August and the service will be fully deployed by October.
Its announcement comes on the heels of word earlier this week that Hainan P O Shipping Co is planning a mid-August launch of a transpacific container liner service.
Maon's rival in the Hawaii and Guam service, Horizon Lines, is beginning an eastbound service from Hawaii in December and two other companies, PIL and The Containership Co both launched new services in April.
Matson said like its existing service, the new service would be high-speed, offering 10-day transit from Shanghai to Long Beach.
Chris Dupin of American Shipper reported that Matson would charter five foreign-flag ships with average capacity of about 3,500 TEUs, and operate them in a Hong Kong, Shenzen, Shanghai, Long Beach, Hong Kong rotation.
Matson launched a service from North China to Long Beach in February 2006 using five US-flag ships with capacity ranging from 2,200 TEUs to 2,600 TEUs That link also serves Hawaii and Guam on their western legs.
The new ships are not eligible to trade in the Jones Act between the mainland and Hawaii Guam because they were not US built nor do they employ US mariners.
Matson would bring ships into the service in August and the service will be fully deployed by October.
Its announcement comes on the heels of word earlier this week that Hainan P O Shipping Co is planning a mid-August launch of a transpacific container liner service.
Maon's rival in the Hawaii and Guam service, Horizon Lines, is beginning an eastbound service from Hawaii in December and two other companies, PIL and The Containership Co both launched new services in April.
Matson said like its existing service, the new service would be high-speed, offering 10-day transit from Shanghai to Long Beach.