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Breaking Alert

7/24/2020

Dear Valued Customer:

 

Matson Navigation Company (“Matson”) has advised that according to the U.S. Coast Guard and National Weather Service information yesterday afternoon, Hurricane Douglas is moving west-northwest and forecast to pass over the northern tip of the Big Island Sunday morning, July 26. The hurricane is also forecast to lose strength starting today, midday Hawaii time. Below is how their current weekend vessel arrivals and Neighbor Island barge services are being affected:

  • The R.J. PfeifferV451W will arrive Honolulu Saturday morning, July 25 and will begin cargo operations.
     
  • The Kaimana HilaV018W will arrive Honolulu Sunday morning, July 26 if the Honolulu Harbor remains open.
     
  • If the Honolulu Harbor closes, both vessels will seek safe water at sea and will return upon the harbor reopening.

Neighbor Island barge schedules will be adjusted based on harbor closures. In consultation with the Hawaii State Department of Transportation and the U.S. Coast Guard regarding port closures and safety, Matson will adjust operations as needed.

 

Interisland

 

We have also been informed by Young Brothers (“YB”), Hawaii’s interisland barge service, that due to Hurricane Douglas taking a more direct path to the Hawaiian Islands, which will bring storm surge and severe weather conditions, YB’s daily operations will be impacted. Under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard and guidance of the Department of Transportation – Harbors Division (“DOT-H”) YB finds it necessary to close waterways to vessels in the order below:

 

  • The Captain of the Port (“COTP”) will be closing all waterways to vessel arrivals for the Big Island, Maui, and Honolulu Counties starting Saturday, July 25. The COTP anticipates closing the waterway to vessel arrivals for Kauai County starting Sunday, July 26. 
     
  • The Saturday, July 25 sailing to Kaunakakai and Hilo has been canceled.
  • In preparation for the storm and cleanup of the port after it passes, the port of Hilo will be closed on Friday, July 24 and Monday, July 27.
     
  • The Monday, July 27 sailings to Kawaihae, Kahului, and Nawiliwili are pending.
     
  • Cargo Restrictions - Effective Thursday, July 23 Young Brothers will not accept the following cargo for all portsuntil Hurricane Douglas has passed:
  • Refrigerated straight load containers
     
  • All vehicles and roll-on roll-off cargo
     
  • All livestock shipments
     
  • All dry and refrigerated less than container load (“LCL”) palletized and mixed cargo
     
  • All hazardous material cargo with the exception of dry ice and medical supplies

For the safety of your cargo, please be sure to pick up any cargo that has already arrived and is ready for pick up as soon as possible. We urge customers to delay delivering any nonessessential cargo to the port until Hurricane Douglas has passed. Information regarding rescheduled sailings will be provided once YB has have received the “All Clear” from the U.S. Coast Guard and DOT-H. Port hours of operation on each island will be impacted and determined based on the path of Hurricane Douglas. 

 

We, DHX – Dependable Hawaiian Express, have canceled our LCL consolidated service from Oahu to Hilo for the Saturday, July 25 sail and to Kailua Kona and Maui for the Monday, July 27 sail as well.

  

DHX – Dependable Hawaiian Express Island Operations

 

In regards to our island operations, depending on the severity of the hurricane and ensuing rain and wind storms, we are holding off until the night of Sunday, July 26 in making a decision whether we will be open on Monday, July 27. We will re-alert you Monday morning if our island operations are unavailable Monday or any day after the storm has passed.

 

We urge you all to take safe harbor from the storm and maintain safety practices currently in place because of the pandemic. Be safe, be vigilant.

  

We will continue to monitor any developments and update you as needed.

 

Should you have additional questions, please contact your local representative or Customer Service at our corporate office at 1-800-488-4888 or 1-310-537-2000, Ext. 2020.

 

Thank you in advance for your understanding and continued business.