Matson learned years ago in its mainland to Hawaii service the importance of on-time performance, and it’s a lesson that has served the carrier well in operating its weekly express service from China to Long Beach.

Matson said it expects its new Alaska service, improved rates in the carrier’s China express service, and growth in its core Hawaii market to produce improvement from second quarter results that were dinged by non-recurring charges.

A mechanical problem that caused a Matson Navigation Co. vessel to lose power en route to Honolulu on Wednesday was corrected that evening and the ship has resumed its voyage.

Matson’s first quarter operating income quadrupled from a year earlier as the carrier’s niche China-to-U.S. West Coast service continued to benefit from delays afflicting other trans-Pacific carriers.

A bipartisan group of 32 U.S. House members are pushing back against a recently filed amendment to repeal requirements that domestic waterborne cargo be shipped in U.S.-flag ships owned, built and operated by Americans.

Multiple container lines have planned general rate increases in numerous trade lanes in November, December and January, although any gains achieved could be temporary as overcapacity and sluggish global demand continue.

The U.S. domestic carrier Horizon Lines is being broken up, the company announced on Tuesday, with its Puerto Rico service being shut down and its Alaska and Hawaii service being sold to existing carriers in those markets.

Bunker fuel surcharges are falling along with the drop in fuel prices, according to Catapult International which tracks ocean surcharges.

Hawaii-focused Matson remains interested in entering the Alaska market if one of the two Jones Act carriers in that trade decides to sell.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association met for three days this past week without concluding negotiations; at the weekend, the parties announced a week-long recess in the talks. German carrier Hamburg Süd announced plans to acquire the container operations of Chile’s CCNI, in a move resembling the deal between larger competitor Hapag-Lloyd and Chile’s CSAV, and Crowley is reported to be in talks to acquire Horizon Lines’ Puerto Rico assets. Earnings reports by U.S. truckload carriers are pointing to a stronger freight recovery in the United States, though rail service continues to be held back. And on Friday, Anne S. Ferro announced her departure from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration after five years leading the agency.

Matson Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. government $9 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims for fuel surcharges on military household goods shipments between continental U.S. points and Hawaii and Guam.

Matson's expedited service allows it to stand out from most larger carriers in the eastbound trans-Pacific and is shoring up profits for the Jones Act line.

Matson Inc. has signed a contract with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard for two new dual-fuel container ships that can be powered by either liquid natural gas or diesel fuel.

Matson reported its net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $20.1 million, up from $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Most, if not all, of the container lines that call at California’s ports are prepared to meet the state’s revolutionary r

Matson Logistics has opened a new distribution center in Savannah, Ga.

Matson Inc., has signed a definitive agreement to acquire assets formerly owned by Auckland, New Zealand-based Reef Shipping.