Matson ups fuel surcharge to new record

Matson ups fuel surcharge to new record Oakland-based Jones Act carrier Matson Navigation Co. said Friday it will raise its shipping fuel surcharge by 2.25 percentage points effective April 6, due to rapidly escalating international fuel prices.
   The increase, which will boost the carrier's surcharge to a record 33.75 percent, will affect Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Micronesia.
   The firm last raised its surcharge in January.
   Though Matson competitor Horizon Lines has moved in lock step on previous increases, Horizon officials have yet to issue a statement regarding the increases. Horizon Lines last increased its fuel surcharge on Feb. 4, by three percentage points to a record 32 percent.
   On Friday, oil prices spiked at a near all-time high, $106 per barrel, but later ended lower.