Horizon cancels planned surcharge increase

Horizon Lines Inc.'s latest note to its customers: Never mind.

Two days after its larger ocean-shipping rival, Matson Navigation Co., declined to follow Horizon's lead and increase the fuel surcharge, Horizon sent out a revised notice yesterday announcing that it has decided to maintain the levy at the current level of 33.75 percent.

Horizon gave no reason for the pullback in its service bulletin, and company officials didn't return phone calls.

But Horizon, the second-largest ocean shipper in the islands, always has matched Matson on fuel surcharges for service between the mainland, Hawaii and Guam, and usually follows its rival in announcing percentage moves.

This time, though, Horizon went first with a May 9 announcement that it was raising its surcharge 1.5 percentage points to 35.25 percent, effective June 8.

But on Monday, Matson said it was going to keep its fuel surcharge at 33.75 percent, citing its fuel-conservation efforts.

Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, which ships vehicles between Hawaii and San Diego, has been at 31.25 percent since April 7.