By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

HORIZON Lines has again raised its fuel surcharge for the Guam and CNMI trades.
Effective Sunday, May 27, the fuel surcharge will increase by 2.25 percent, from 20.75 percent to 23 percent, the company announced.
The amended fuel surcharge has been filed with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and covers Horizon Lines tariffs that govern shipments moving between the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Guam.
According to the company, this latest fuel surcharge adjustment is the result of yet another significant trend in the carrier’s fuel costs.
“This latest trend has been felt in all areas of our business, to include fuel surcharges on trucking and rail, fuel costs to operate terminal machinery and equipment, and bunker cost to operate our ships,” a statement from the carrier’s marketing department said.
Horizon Lines forecasts its fuel costs to remain at the current level or even escalate further during the summer months.
“Horizon Lines is sensitive to the fact that this adjustment impacts your cost of doing business, just as fuel cost increases have affected our cost of providing service. Horizon Lines commits to vigilantly monitor fuel costs and adjust the fuel surcharge as trends warrant,” the carrier’s marketing department said.
It was only last month that Horizon Lines announced that it would increase its fuel surcharge for its Hawaii and Guam trades by 1.25 percent, from 19.5 percent to 20.75 percent.
The company said its fuel cost started rising mid-March and it sees no immediate relief in sight.
Horizon Lines even forecasts its fuel costs to escalate further through mid-year or remain at the current level.
According to John Handy, executive vice president of Horizon Lines, fuel is the single biggest cost component of shipping lines and other transport companies.
He said the price of bunker fuel, as well as lubricant oil, continues to increase.
Horizon Lines is the nation’s leading Jones Act container shipping and integrated logistics company, operating 16 U.S.-flag vessels on routes linking the continental United States with Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Horizon Lines also owns Horizon Services Group, an organization with a diversified offering of cargo management and tracking services being marketed to shippers, carriers, and other supply chain participants.