Horizon surcharge will rise to 38.25%

Isle rates to jump by 4.5 percent to match rival shipper Matson

Horizon Lines Inc. said yesterday it is increasing its fuel surcharge on ocean shipments between the mainland, Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia, effective July 14.

The fuel surcharge between Hawaii and the mainland will increase by 4.5 percentage points, to 38.25 percent from 33.75 percent. Between the mainland and Micronesia and Guam, the surcharge will jump by 6 percentage points, to 39.75 percent from 33.75 percent.

The increases match those announced June 13 by rival shipper Matson Navigation Co., which will go into effect on July 13. However, they are higher than a planned increase of 1.5 percentage points announced by Horizon in May that was pulled back after Matson failed to follow its lead.

The fuel-surcharge increase from 33.75 percent marks the eighth time that Horizon has raised that fee since it was lowered to 17.5 percent in January 2007.

Horizon, the state's second-largest ocean shipper, normally follows moves by Matson. The increase is due to "a continuing unprecedented escalation of the cost of fuel," the Charlotte, N.C.-based company said in a letter to its customers.

Reggie Maldonado, general manager of Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, said the company will announce a fuel surcharge increase on Monday. Pasha, which ships vehicles between Hawaii and San Diego, has been at 31.25 percent since April 7.