Matson adds huge gantry crane for Alaska operations

AUGUST 14, 2015—Following on its acquisition of Horizon Lines’ non-Hawaiian business, Jones Act shipping company Matson, Inc. has begun upgrading its Alaska operations with a new 65-ton gantry crane at the company’s Kodiak Terminal in Kodiak, AK. 

The largest of its kind in Alaska, the electrically-powered gantry crane is more than 340 feet tall with a boom spanning 164 feet, capable of lifting loads up to 60 feet long and weighing up to 145,000 pounds.

What’s even more notable is that the $10 million crane will be powered entirely by renewable energy.  Electricity for the crane will be supplied by the Kodiak Electric Association, which uses wind and water turbines to generate 99.9 percent of its power. The crane will also capture electricity using fly-wheel technology.

Other investments by Matson for Alaska include new ground equipment and a fleet of new dry and insulated containers.

Matson has also scheduled work to install new exhaust scrubber systems on the three former Horizon D7 Class vessels it now operates in Alaska, with each vessel going into dry dock for three months, one after another, starting in September. 

On May 29, 2015, Matson, Inc. closed its acquisition of Horizon Lines, Inc., which included Horizon’s Alaska operations and the assumption of all non-Hawaii business, for $469 million (before transaction costs). 

Matson’s Alaska service will include calls by containerships that provide two weekly sailings from Tacoma to Anchorage and Kodiak, and a weekly sailing to Dutch Harbor.  In addition, Matson operates port terminals in Anchorage, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor and acquired several reserve steam-powered Jones Act containerships that may be used for dry-dock relief.