The question posed is a complex one, and in order to clarify it the author describes the present shipping system operated by Matson. Fifteen cargo ships operate to Hawaii on a schedule of two sailings a week out of San Francisco, one sailing a week out of Los Angeles, and somewhat less frequent sailings out of Pacific Northwest ports – a total of about two hundred round trip voyages per year. Operating cost figures have shown that almost half of the total transportation costs from shippers' to consignees' doors is directly associated with cargo handling to and from the ship, and that this cost is steadily rising.