The Horizon Hawk, a 2,824 twenty-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) container ship, made its maiden call at the Port of Tacoma, initiating service between the mainland U.S., Guam, Micronesia and Asia.
The Horizon Hawk is the first of five Hunter class vessels entering service this year for Horizon Lines. All five are of proven international design, have a service speed of over 23 knots and are U.S.-flag, foreign built vessels that Horizon Lines is chartering from subsidiaries of Ship Finance International Limited under definitive long-term charters and related agreements.
Since the new ships are much more efficient to operate, it's expected that operating costs will be lower while additional capacity will be available. John V. Keenan, senior vice president and chief transportation officer for the company notes that, “These five new vessels represent the latest additions to the growing U.S.-flag fleet and are of a proven design incorporating the latest technology." By July Horizon Lines expects to be operating 17 active ships and to have four vessels in reserve. The carrier's active vessel fleet will have an average age of 20 years.