Matson expands China service

Matson Navigation Co. will add the southern port of Xiamen to its China-to-Long Beach Express, or CLX service, in May.

The added port call will serve the Xiamen region with next-day cargo availability to the nearby West Coast and one-stop intermodal connections through Matson Integrated Logistics.

Matson's service from Ningbo and Shanghai will remain unchanged, the company said yesterday.

“;Since the CLX service was inaugurated in 2006, Matson has consistently demonstrated its ability to provide customers with dependable vessel schedules and service efficiencies that are measured in hours, not days,”; said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president of ocean services.

IRS to offer free tax help

The Honolulu IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, 300 Ala Moana, will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 21 during “;Super Saturday”; to provide free tax tips to area residents.

IRS employees will assist taxpayers with preparing basic tax returns for those who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or those whose income is less than $42,000, resolving tax issues, answering tax law questions, making account adjustments, accepting payments, establishing payment plans for those who cannot pay taxes in full, working with people having a hard time paying, and providing tax forms.

Young Bros. to go to zero surcharge

Young Brothers Ltd. is eliminating fuel surcharges for the next three months.

In the previous three months — from December 2008 to February 2009 — the fuel price adjustment was 6.57 percent. Roy Catalani, vice president of strategic planning and government affairs for Young Brothers, said this would effectively reduce cargo rates for customers by 6 percent.

“;If fuel prices remain at or near current levels, our customers will not see any form of fuel surcharge this year,”; said Catalani.

Young Brothers, which announced the new rate yesterday after filing the change with the state Public Utilities Commission, reviews and adjusts its fuel-price adjustment every three months, with the next one scheduled in June.

PEOPLE

HECO's Alm promoted to back clean energy

Hawaiian Electric Co. has expanded Vice President Robbie Alm's scope of responsibilities amid a company reorganization designed to support HECO's strategic focus on increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency.

In addition to the public affairs he currently oversees, Alm also will be responsible for functions which directly support the company's clean energy plans. These include corporate planning, system integration, resource acquisition, energy services and energy solutions.