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Matson adding
ship to isle
cargo service

Hawaii's improving
economy justifies the
extra capacity, it says

---

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Matson Navigation Co. said today it will add a containership to its mainland-Hawaii service later this month, lifting its fleet to a total of eight vessels.

The 39,000-ton S.S. Ewa will go into service Oct. 29, Matson said.

The shipping line said the additional capacity is warranted because Hawaii's economy has improved.

"We are encouraged by the trends seen in the state's economic activity," said C. Bradley Mulholland, Matson president and chief executive officer. "These signs of growth have been reflected in Matson's freight volume."

The added ship allows Matson to alter its schedule to four sailings a week. Matson has been alternating between four a week and three a week for a total of seven voyages each 14 days and that now will increase to eight trips.

Under the new arrangement, Honolulu ships will sail from Oakland to Honolulu every Tuesday and Friday and from Los Angeles to Honolulu every Wednesday and Saturday.

Matson, the major subsidiary of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc., cut its sailings from eight a week to six in 1998 because Hawaii's economy had slumped. Citing a rebound, however, Matson took one ship out of reserve in last May to bring the Hawaii fleet to seven ships.