Matson charters 630 teu vessel to launch new South Pacific Islands service
Honolulu-based Matson Line, which recently extended its reach into the South Pacific through the acquisition of Reef Shipping, has chartered the 630 teu mpp and container vessel MCP BILBAO to launch the new Pacific Islands service from Brisbane announced in March.
The 117m vessel, one of 25 ships from the Hartmann-led mini container pool series, has been renamed IMUA for her new job.
The 21-day Brisbane-Islands round trip will be maintained by a single vessel which offers one sailing every three weeks on the following rotation: Brisbane, Honiara, Noro, Nauru, Brisbane.
Back in March, market rumors suggested that Matson would employ the owned 246 teu vessel REEF EXPRESS on the new route, but the carrier apparently opted in favor of a charter ship instead.
MCP BILBAO’s new name IMUA is a Hawaiian expression that describes the traditional Hawaiian warrior’s spear and which also means as much as ‘strength’ and ‘forward thrust’ in the native island language.
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