(CHARLOTTE) -- Horizon Lines, Inc. plans being its own weekly trans-Pacific liner service between Asia and the U.S. West Coast. The new service will begin on December 11, 2010. Horizon currently serves ports in China under an agreement with Maersk Line. This agreement expires on December 10, 2010.

The new service will utilize the company’s five 2,824 twenty-foot-equivalent-unit (TEU) capacity, 23-knot, U.S. flag Hunter-class containerships that currently call on Guam and continue on to China as part of the space-charter agreement with Maersk Line.

“We are excited about the prospects of providing an expedited ocean service between Asia and the West Coast," said Chuck Raymond, Horizon Lines Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We carefully weighed various options, engaged the assistance of industry experts, conferred with our customers, and thoughtfully assessed our current service capabilities. This represents the best possible utilization of our Hunter-class vessels, which are already calling on Guam and ports in China."

“Maersk Line has been an outstanding business partner for the past 10 years, and while we remain in constructive discussion on other aspects of our businesses, continuing this space-charter agreement no longer meets the financial objectives of either party,” Raymond said.