Matson Launching US West Coast South Pacific Service

Matson US carrier Matson is to set up a fast containership service between the US West Coast and ports in Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, starting August 10, 2016.  With West Coast cargo to be transshipped at Honolulu, SPX will provide same-day-of-week South Pacific arrivals every 28 days, calling on Apia, Samoa; Pago Pago, American Samoa; Nukualofa, Tonga; Suva, Fiji and Lautoka, Fiji before returning to Honolulu. The new service, South Pacific Express (SPX) will link the companys West Coast Hawaii service with its South Pacific network. In addition, Matson is to redeploy a vessel in its existing South Pacific fleet, the 510-TEU vessel Liloa, to operate the new service. We have sought for some time the right opportunity to link our networks in the northern and South Pacific in a way that enhances both operations, Matt Cox, president and chief executive officer, said. According to the company, the new service will be the only direct service from Hawaii to South Pacific.