Horizon Lines raising shipping rates

Horizon Lines Inc., the state’s second-largest ocean cargo transportation firm, said yesterday it will match an increase in the basic shipping rate and terminal handling charge on containers bound for Hawaii that Matson Navigation Co., the largest ocean cargo company in Hawaii, announced last month.

The basic rate per container will go up by $120 and the handling charge by $175 on Jan. 2.

The combined increase of $295 represents about a 10 percent jump in fees compared with Matson rates this year, according to Star-Advertiser estimates. Matson and Horizon did not provide the percentage calculation.

Horizon said in October that reduced cargo shipping to Hawaii contributed to a decline in third-quarter profit. Net income slipped to $7.7 million in its fiscal third quarter ended Sept. 19, from $8.4 million in the same period last year.

State expands online jobless filing

Hawaii’s unemployment insurance Internet claims filing system will be expanded to allow nearly all unemployed individuals who file new applications for benefits to do so online beginning in January.

A soft launch of the system is planned for Monday. Selected claimants on Oahu will be asked to file their claims online using the newly augmented Internet system. Following a monthlong testing and monitoring period, the system will be available to the public in January.

Currently, only individuals who live in Hawaii, are totally unemployed, worked only for Hawaii employers and have not established a UI claim in the prior year can file a new claim using the online system.

Claimants will be allowed in March to reactivate their claims online, making the system more comprehensive. After this final phase is implemented, nearly all claimants will be able to completely file their initial claims over the Internet without any delays.

State building to get solar panels

The state Department of Accounting and General Services will install more than 1,000 solar photovoltaic panels on the Kalanimoku Building in downtown Honolulu as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to lead by example in reducing Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil.

The 236-kilowatt-DC PV system, when complete in February, will generate 296,849 kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 500,000 pounds (carbon dioxide equivalents) annually.

This project is made possible by a $2.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.

A380 engine failure blamed on leak

SYDNEY » An oil leak was the most likely cause of the midair disintegration of a superjumbo engine last month, investigators confirmed. They said a potentially dangerous manufacturing defect might still exist in Rolls-Royce engines used by 20 of the A380 jets.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its preliminary report into the blowout that caused a Qantas A380 to make an emergency landing Nov. 4 in what was the most significant safety issue for the world’s newest and largest jetliner.

ON THE MOVE

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has appointed William Haug as hospital administrator for Moanalua Medical Center. He has more than 35 years of health care experience, including president and chief executive officer for Children’s Hospital Central California and president and CEO of Motion Picture & Television Fund Hospital.

Aloha United Way has hired the following:

» Cedric Panganiban as assistant vice president of finance, who will be responsible for accounting duties that relate to Aloha United Way’s receivables.

» Alan Castillo as assistant vice president for campaign, who will assist with operations of the annual fundraising campaign and strengthening donor relationships.

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced Sandy Delaunay as previews specialist. She has more than 30 years of real estate experience and was previously a broker-in-charge at Hawaiian Properties.