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Matson makes large liner service move of unit equipment (10/14)

The U.S. Transportation Command issued the following news release. Both Matson and Totem Ocean Trailer Express are Seafarers-contracted companies. Matson makes large liner service move of unit equipment ARLINGTON, Va., (USTCNS) --- A three-ship liner service move of unit equipment of the 29th Brigade Combat Team is one of the largest shipments from Hawaii in recent years. The 900-piece move from Oahu to ports on the West Coast of the United States was conducted by Matson Navigation Co., Oakland, Calif. on vessels chartered from Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Federal Way, Wash. “There are a lot of challenges inherent in moving unit cargo via liner service,” said Doug Anderson, deputy director of deployment operations for the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. “However, Matson showed great flexibility in scheduling and marshalling their resources to provide liner service to final destination.” Liner service leverages existing capabilities and established routes. SDDC negotiates with ocean carriers to conduct scheduled movements based on ability to meet cargo and delivery requirements, reliability and cost. “This has to be a record (for us),” said Mike Garvin, Matson’s manager of public relations. “Typically, unit cargo moves by liner service are smaller.” “Our people were really up for this operation—and excelled.” The move was the largest deployment of Hawaii Army National Guardsmen since the activation of soldiers for the Vietnam War. The unit went to Fort Bliss, Texas, for two weeks of specialized infantry and counterinsurgency training. Most of the cargo went aboard the Motor Vessel Great Land, which was loaded Sept. 10-13 in Pearl Harbor by the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Industrial Supply Center. The 599th Transportation Group, Wheeler Army Airfield, managed the operation. Totem discharged the vessel on Sept. 18 in Tacoma with the 833rd Transportation Battalion, Seattle, on the ground to assist. The cargo was then moved by Union Pacific rail cars and arrived at Fort Bliss Oct. 2. The two smaller Texas-bound shipments were loaded in Honolulu, Hawaii, and offloaded in Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif., by Matson, with the help of the 834th Transportation Battalion, Concord, Calif. Commercial-military teamwork was key to a successful load-out, said Dennis Muraoka, Terminal Management Division chief for the 599th. Transporters from the 599th conducted round-the-clock staging operations Sept. 10-13 at Pearl Harbor. “With our support, the deploying unit smoothly transferred through the joint inspection process and into sealift,” said Muraoka. ###