Matson hiking Hawaii rates, terminal handling charges

Matson hiking Hawaii rates, terminal handling charges Matson Navigation Co. said Friday it will raise its Hawaii service rates by $75 per westbound container and $40 per eastbound container, effective Jan. 6.
   At the same time, the Oakland-based company will increase its terminal handling charge by $125 per westbound container and $60 per eastbound container.
   “This rate increase will help offset rises in operating costs and support a number of investments in our Hawaii service,” said Dave Hoppes, Matson’s senior vice president, ocean services.
   “Terminal handling costs comprise approximately 40 percent of Matson’s operating costs and today represent nearly $300 million annually,” Hoppes said. “In the past five years, terminal handling costs, which are driven by many factors that are outside of our control, have risen by 37 percent. Matson continues to absorb the vast majority of these increases, but needs to pass on some of the costs to our customers. Some of the increased costs actually went into effect in July 2007.”
   Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc.