USA: Horizon Lines Receives 2011 Vessel Awards for Safety and Stewardship

Horizon Lines, Inc. America’s leading domestic ocean shipping company, has received recognition from the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for its record of safety and stewardship.

CSA presented Horizon Lines with the Jones F. Devlin Awards for safety at the Chamber’s recent Annual Ship Safety Awards luncheon, which recognizes the men and women responsible for safe ship operations. Self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crewmember losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury are eligible for the award. The awards were presented to the Horizon Challenger (4 years), Horizon Eagle (2 years), Horizon Hunter (2 years), and Horizon Spirit (2 years).

In addition, the Horizon Producer received a Citation of Merit for the crew’s rescue of fishermen on a sinking 17-foot skiff that had drifted more than 120 miles from shore.

“Our vessel teams have done an outstanding job managing their daily activities in a very dangerous environment, all the while remaining injury-free,” said Joe Breglia, Vice President and General Manager of Horizon Lines’ Ocean Transportation Services group. “Three years ago, we set a goal for injury-free performance. As a result, we have improved an already stellar safety record, including better safety participation, practices and reduced injury rates. In 2010, we achieved four months without an injury fleet-wide.”

CSA represents 33 U.S. based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades, as well as other entities that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels.

“Since 1950, we have honored all qualifying ships,” said Joseph Cox, CSA President. “This year we honored more than 1,000 vessels. For this, we salute the seagoing crews and the shore-based staff that lead safe operations.”

Separately, Horizon Lines also has been honored by the USCG’s Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System, known as AMVER, for its invaluable support of the voluntary program over the years. At the AMVER Awards ceremony in Washington D.C., the Horizon Producer, a 720-foot ocean-going container shipping vessel, received AMVER’s award for 36 consecutive years of participation. Other Horizon Lines vessels recognized by AMVER with years of continual participation were: Horizon Anchorage (23 years); Horizon Navigator (27 years); Horizon Pacific (27 years); Horizon Trader (27 years); Horizon Enterprise (23 years); Horizon Kodiak (23 years); Horizon Tacoma (23 years); Horizon Spirit (21 years); Horizon Reliance (20 years); Horizon Eagle (4 years); Horizon Falcon (4 years); Horizon Hawk (4 years); Horizon Hunter (4 years); Horizon Tiger (4 years); Horizon Consumer (1 year); Horizon Challenger (1 year).

AMVER is a unique, computer-based, global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. Awards are given to vessels that send position reports and are available to divert a minimum of 128 days per year. More than 19,000 vessels representing hundreds of countries are enrolled in the AMVER network.

About Horizon Lines

Horizon Lines, Inc. is the nation’s leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company. The company owns or leases a fleet of 20 U.S.-flag containerships and operates five port terminals linking the continental United States with Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and Puerto Rico. The company provides express trans-Pacific service between the U.S. West Coast and the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai in China, manages a domestic and overseas service partner network and provides integrated, reliable and cost competitive logistics solutions. Horizon Lines, Inc., is based in Charlotte, NC, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HRZ.

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Source: Horizon Lines, June 23, 2011.