Service Updates

The Friday, November 15, sailing MKD291N has been delayed into Anchorage due to inclement weather in the Gulf of Alaska. Port vessel operations in Anchorage are now expected to start at 1300 on Tuesday, November 19.

Each year, the ocean carriers serving Alaska assess their expenses, including marine operating costs, terminal overhead, equipment maintenance, trucking, and capital investment in vessels and equipment, to help determine an appropriate General Rate Increase (GRI). Recently, the ocean carriers operating in Alaska filed for GRIs of 7.5% for the 2025 shipping season.

Matson will have a single sailing during the week of Thanksgiving. Voyage MKD292N will sail on Wednesday, November 27, and will arrive in Anchorage Sunday, December 1, and Kodiak on Monday, December 2. There will be no sailing from Tacoma on Friday, November 29.

As you may have seen in news reports, the International Longshore Association (ILA), which represents dockworkers at ports on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, has announced that its members have begun a strike, following a breakdown in contract negotiations.

Alaska Marine Lines has announced that effective September 29, 2024, the barge fuel surcharge (FSC) to, and from, Southeast Alaska points will change from 11.5% to 10.5%.

Matson will deploy reserve vessel RJ Pfeiffer into the Alaska rotation beginning this week to minimize service impacts while two vessels undergo back-to-back dry dockings for annual
maintenance. Schedule revisions are limited to the following:

As a regular part of our Alaska service, Span provides specialized equipment (insulated containers) to protect your shipments from freezing. This year, the seasonal service will begin with the sailing of MKD288N, departing Tacoma on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

The Friday, September 20, sailing MAC281N, is delayed into Anchorage due to weather. Port of Anchorage vessel operations are now expected to start at 1300 this afternoon.

Span Alaska will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024, at all terminals to observe Labor Day. Matson will still maintain the normal two sailing schedule out of Tacoma, WA during the holiday week and southbound service will not be impacted.

Due to the upcoming 4th of July holiday falling on a Thursday, and the subsequent ILWU recognized holiday that falls on July 5, Matson and Span Alaska will be implementing several significant schedule changes.

Please be advised the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) will observe the Juneteenth holiday on Wednesday, June 19, at West Coast port facilities, including Tacoma. The Tacoma port facility will be closed for the day shift on Wednesday (0700 – 1800).