Page 62 - Inbound Logistics | April 2017 | Digital Issue

Matson’s fleet is equipped with computerized tracking and supported by experienced operations personnel in all specialties, including
transporting fragile and refrigerated items. The carrier offers twice-weekly, consistent day-of-the-week service between Tacoma,
Anchorage, and Kodiak, among other Alaskan services.
“If we get two or three feet of snow, we he says. “The companies in our core The company also brought in the
shrug it off as just another snow day.” markets, including Alaska, depend on largest crane in Alaska; it’s located in
While Span Alaska focuses on less- a reliable supply chain.” Matson’s cli- Kodiak. The crane expedites the time
than-containerload shipments, its ents include retailers, wholesalers, and required to unload the ship.
parent company, Matson, helps com- forwarders, as well as the government; Matson also invested heavily in its
panies move full containers over the Matson handles many items headed for newly acquired Alaska fleet. Along with
ocean. Matson traces its roots to 1882, retail stores on military bases. other upgrades, the ships received new
when Captain William Matson sailed equipment that allows them to com-
his three-masted schooner from San Year-Round Service ply with new emissions regulations
Francisco to Hawaii, bringing 300 tons Its ships make two trips each week well in advance of 2020, when they go
of food, plantation supplies, and gen- from Tacoma, Wash., to Anchorage into effect. “We’re ahead of the game,”
eral merchandise. It has since grown to and Kodiak, with one also serving Lauer notes.
become one of the leading U.S. carri- Dutch Harbor. Together, that repre- Matson has refurbished and updated
ers operating in the Pacific Ocean. The sents more Alaska ports served than any two ships that it keeps in reserve in
company’s fleet of 22 vessels includes other shipping line. And service is year- Tacoma, should anything happen to
containerships, combination container round. “Even in rough conditions, we’re one of its three primary ships that serve
and roll-on/roll-off ships, and custom- able to get in there 52 weeks a year,” Alaska. “We’ve never missed a beat
designed barges. Lauer adds. meeting our schedules,” Lauer says.
Matson serves three primary ports Most shipments begin in the lower 48 For instance, when a vessel had to
in Alaska: Anchorage, Kodiak, and states. One of the firm’s sister companies, return to Tacoma so a mechanical issue
Dutch Harbor, says John Lauer, senior Matson Logistics, uses rail and truck net- could be resolved, Matson replaced it
vice president of ocean services with works that traverse the U.S. mainland to with one of its reserve ships and main-
Matson. The company added its Alaska feed the cargo ships in Tacoma. tained its schedule. In other instances,
service in 2015, when it purchased the When Matson purchased Horizon Matson offered customers a range of
business from Horizon Lines, which Lines’ Alaska service, Horizon had been delivery options that would keep their
had done business in the state for 50 in financial distress, which hampered products moving. In a few cases, it
years. Horizon employees remained efforts to invest in its business. “We’ve flew cargo to grocery stores in Kodiak
on board and continue to bring their been able to invest in a significant num- and Dutch Harbor. “We go above
knowledge and dedication to their roles ber of containers,” Lauer says. Matson and beyond to make sure shelves are
in helping to move more than 60,000 also has invested in containers designed stocked,” he says.
containers each year, Lauer says. to keep products, such as cases of soda, The company also installed systems
“We’re thrilled to be in the market,” from freezing. that allow customers to book services

60 Inbound Logistics • April 2017