Matson in scrap pledge

Green group Basel Action Network (BAN) added the decision by the boxship company was significant, as 23 of its vessels will need to be demolished in the next few years.

23 September 2015 7:21 GMT Updated 2 October 2015 5:56 GMT

By Gary Dixon

The deal comes too late to stop one old Matson ship heading to India currently, however.

BAN called on All Star Metals of Brownsville, Texas, the last holder of the 2,139-teu Horizon Trader (built 1973), to return the ship to the US for proper recycling in their Brownsville ship recycling yard.

The ship, acquired by Matson when it took over Horizon Lines, is now in the Caribbean Sea.