Matson opens two China offices

Matson opens two China offices    Oakland, Calif.-based Matson Navigation Co. opened offices in Shanghai and Ningbo, China last week.
   At the opening ceremony in Shanghai, Matson signed working agreements with port agents Shanghai United International Ocean Shipping Agency Ltd. and depot services companies Shanghai Jianghai International Container Shipping Co. Ltd. and Dongwha Container Transportation Service Co. Ltd.
   Matson intends to start a weekly service between Ningbo, Shanghai and Long Beach next February, when its 10-year vessel operating alliance in the transpacific and U.S. mainland/Guam trade agreement with APL ends. Under terms of the agreement only APL serves the transpacific trade, while Matson exclusively covers the U.S. mainland/Guam trade.
   Matson, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. of Honolulu, was one of the first container operators in the transpacific until it left the trade in 1970.
   “As the first U.S. shipping company doing business in China, we recognize the importance and value of working with business partners that will bring considerable expertise to our new enterprise. As Shanghai quickly moves forward to become the world’s leading container port, it is particularly important that we are represented by port officials with quality reputations,” said Jim Andrasick, Matson’s president and chief executive officer.