The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission approved Young Brothers’ emergency request to increase rates by 46 percent with several conditions over the next 12 months. As a result, Young Brothers will resume a full “pre-COVID” sailing schedule by Sept. 1, 2020, which will restore an additional sailing from the ports of Hilo and Kahului to Honolulu.

"That degradation in cargo volume, combined with virtually no significant rate increases over six to eight years, combined with continuing escalating costs have led to our financial situation,” said Jay Ana, President of Young Brothers, LLC.

On Friday night, Young Brothers filed a letter with the Public Utilities Commission to underscore the urgency of its pending request for an emergency rate increase by Aug. 17, 2020. Company representatives say the increase is needed so that the company may continue to provide its statewide interisland shipping services.

A salvage company has been hired and a 250-ton crane has been contracted to lift shipping containers out of the ocean in Hilo.  The effort is underway following yesterday's mishap involving 21 containers that fell into the ocean while in transit to Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island. 

Several 40-foot shipping containers fell overboard. That number currently stands at 21. Nine of those have been located, 12 remain missing. The crew of the tug and barge Ho Omaka Hou recognized the containers were missing after mooring in Hilo. Containers are reportedly adrift approximately 8 miles north of Hilo, and one is reported adrift in Hilo Harbor.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino called Young Brothers the "lifeline for the state of Hawai‘i."  He continued saying, "The neighbor islands depend on Young Brothers tremendously.  Some of us do not have big harbors that could bring in larger ships to off load, and so we depend on Young Brothers to bring in almost 90% of all the produce, all of our food and other necessities that this county, this island, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi exist off of."

The Public Utilities Commission on Monday approved temporary emergency changes to Young Brothers' sailing schedule for 30 days.  The changes take effect immediately and will result in an amended weekly sailing schedule for Maui and Hawaiʻi counties.  

YB may supplement service from Moloka‘i as needed with an occasional stopover on Wednesday morning as the Kawaihae barge returns to the port of Honolulu. The service is intended to facilitate the timely transport of fresh produce from Moloka‘i to the neighboring islands and support the farming and agriculture industries. The occasional Kawaihae/Kaunakakai stopover will allow fresh produce from Moloka‘i to reach the neighbor-island markets.

"Effective immediately, we ask that all customers and vendors self-screen before entering our facilities. That means anyone who is showing any flu-like symptoms or is feeling unwell should not enter the port," Young Brothers advised.

The new fleet represents the latest in "green" fuel-reduction tug technology that will generate less pollution than the companyʻs other tug boats. 

TOTE Maritime will establish a new domestic shipping service to Hawaiʻi with the introduction of four new containerhips servicing the Mainland to Hawaiʻi route.

Young Brothers notes that Maui’s last refinery stopped producing sugar, which was used in manufacturing local beverages.

While E.K. Fernandez cited increased shipping costs, Young Brothers executives disputed the accuracy of rates and say they hope to have a discussion with interested parties in order to reach a resolution before the 95th Maui Fair in October and other County fairs scheduled statewide that utilize E.K. Fernandez services.

Saltchuk, a family owned company and the parent company of Aloha Air Cargo, Hawaiʻi Petroleum, ʻOhana Fuels, Minit Stop, Young Brothers, and Foss Hawaiʻi has pledged $10,000 to Book Trust in support of Maui elementary school students.

Young Brothers Preparation for Hurricane Lester and Schedule Changes for the Coming Week.