TRANSCOM awards Pacific freight contracts

TRANSCOM awards Pacific freight contracts The U.S. Transportation Command announced Friday the award of freight transportation contracts to four U.S.-flag vessel operators operating between West Coast ports and Pacific ports in Guam, Hawaii and Alaska.
   Horizon Lines, based in Charlotte, N.C., will be awarded $100 million to provide sea and intermodal transport services between West Coast ports and Hawaii and Guam, and between Alaskan ports and Guam.
   Park Ridge, N.J.-based American Roll-On Roll-Off Carriers will receive $40 million to provide similar service between West Coast ports and Guam.
   TRANSCOM also awarded $100 million to Matson Navigation Co. in Oakland, Calif., for transport services between West Coast ports and Hawaii and Guam, and $60 million to Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines of Corte Madera, Calif., to provide related services between West Coast ports and Hawaii.
   TRANSCOM said the awards were based on competitive bids. Work under the four contracts starts March 16 and is expected to conclude in November.
      TRANSCOM, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., is responsible for the U.S. military's transportation and distribution needs. It oversees three commands: the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command also at Scott Air Force Base, the Navy’s Military Sealift Command in Washington, and the Army’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command at Alexandria, Va.