Posted on: Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Perishables going bad on disabled Matson cargo ship

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lettuce, dairy products and other perishables are rotting on a Matson ship that is being towed into Honolulu today after breaking down in the middle of the Pacific.

A tugboat is pulling the Matsonia to Honolulu after a shaft that supports the propeller on the 760-foot ship broke while it was 700 miles east of Honolulu last week. The ship carries nearly 1,000 containers.

Matson officials estimate the ship en route from Oakland will be ready for unloading tomorrow — meaning an eight- to nine-day delay from the original arrival scheduled for last week, said Matson spokesman Jeff Hull.

The ship maintained electrical power and refrigeration units still work, but produce and dairy items are most likely to be ruined because of the delay. Hull said it's unclear how much would be lost.

Matson's Hawai'i customers are waiting to receive groceries as well as construction materials, dry goods, automobiles and other items.

"We definitely apologize to our customers for the delay," Hull said.

Matson will return to a full schedule of four cargo ship arrivals this week, "so that would be just a temporary shortage," Hull said. The 30-year-old Matsonia may take a few weeks to repair in dry dock. Meanwhile, it will be replaced by a reserve vessel, the Manulani.

About 90 percent of Costco's products arrive by ship. Perishable items such as fish, lettuce, strawberries and other produce can be flown in to make up for a shipping delay, but "that always adds cost to the product," said Shawn Parks, Costco's western division manager.

Times Super Market president Roger Godfrey said Times is flying in lettuce and other produce to adjust to the Matson shipment delay.

"The only thing that caused any concern was some produce on there, but we flew it in so there hasn't been any major impact," Godfrey said. "Our suppliers are taking care of the costs so we have not raised any prices."