Matson expands South Pacific Express service

Honolulu-based ocean carrier Matson plans to increase the frequency of its South Pacific Express service to Samoa and American Samoa from every 28 days to every 14 days.

   Matson Inc. is increasing the frequency of its South Pacific Express (SPX) service to Samoa and American Samoa to 14 days, up from every 28 days, the Honolulu-based carrier has confirmed.
   Matson said the new fortnightly schedule is made possible by the company’s acquisition of a larger, faster vessel that has been christened Samoana. The vessel, which was built in 2015 in China, has a nominal cargo capacity of 1,103 TEUs, 259 TEUs more than the vessel it replaces, the 844-TEU Islander.
   The South Pacific Express (SPX) service boasts some of the fastest transit times from Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast to the Samoas, according to Matson: 12 days from Long Beach and five-and-a-half days from Honolulu to Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, with an extra day to Samoa’s capital city, Apia.
   The Samoana is expected to be welcomed at special ceremonies following its maiden voyage arrivals at Pago Pago and Apia.
   Matson launched the SPX service in August 2016 in an effort to establish reliable, fixed day shipping service between the U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and the Samoas, the carrier said.
   “We are excited that we can now offer increased frequency to North America and Hawai’i for importers and exporters alike, improving the flow of goods from the U.S. and optimizing access for Samoa produce and goods into U.S. markets,” Matson Senior Vice President-Pacific Tuilaepa Vic Angoco said in a statement.
   “The new vessel serving the Samoas will be named MV Samoana, underscoring Matson’s commitment to the Samoas, Tonga and the Cook Islands,” Tuilaepa added. “The name Samoana has special meaning to us as Samoans, and Matson recognizes the pride our people have in our unique culture. It is our hope that the people of the region feel a connection to this vessel.”
   The newly increased service from the U.S. Mainland and Hawaii is a complement to Matson’s existing 14-day service from New Zealand to the Samoas, which has been in operation since 2013. According to the company, this overlapping of service loops allows for exporting and importing opportunities to extend across these trade lanes, which also cover Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, Tonga’s capital city, Nukualofa, Tonga island group Vava’u, small island nation Niue, and Fiji.