BUSINESS BRIEFS
Matson pursues two-ship deal

Advertiser Staff

Matson Navigation Co. has reached agreements with offshore labor unions and is proceeding with the $220 million purchase of two new container ships under construction in Philadelphia.

The first ship will enter service in Hawai'i later this year; the second will be delivered in mid-2004.

Matson earlier said rising labor costs were prompting it to consider seeking a different owner for the ships. That raised the prospect of shipboard personnel being drawn from other unions.

Health insurer stays profitable

Health insurer University Health Alliance reported earnings of $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2003, the sixth straight profitable quarter.

The news means University Health, the state's third largest insurer, is moving closer to possible release from direct state control. The company has been under the oversight of the state insurance commissioner since undergoing a financial crisis in mid-2001.

Web site owner to appeal ruling

A Maui man said this week he'll appeal a court decision in favor of the Motion Picture Association of America's right to shut down Web sites suspected of piracy.

The U.S. District Court for Hawai'i ruled April 29 that the MPAA needn't conduct an investigation before asking an Internet service provider to shut down a site suspected of copyright infringement.

Michael Rossi, owner of InternetMovies.com, claims that the MPAA shut down his Web site after wrongfully accused it of distributing unauthorized copies of copyrighted motion pictures.

Nurses offered online renewal

Hawai'i nurses and acupuncturists will be able to renew their licenses online at www.ehawaiigov.org.

The program is part of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' effort to offer online filing for businesses and professionals.

Online renewals for nurses and acupuncturists will be accepted until midnight June 30, after which renewals must be submitted by mail or in person at the department.