Ali Nikkhoo Joins Horizon Lines as VP & General Manager, Hawaii

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Lines, Inc. (NYSE: HRZ), the nation's leading domestic ocean shipping company, today announced that Ali Behruz Nikkhoo has been named Vice President and General Manager, Hawaii, for the company's Horizon Lines, LLC operating subsidiary. Mr. Nikkhoo, a seasoned veteran with three decades of experience, will report to Brian Taylor, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of Horizon Lines, Inc.

In this position, Mr. Nikkhoo will oversee the ocean carrier's weekly transportation services between the U. S. mainland and the Hawaiian Islands. He will be based in Honolulu.

Mr. Nikkhoo succeeds Mar Labrador, who is leaving the company at the end of June after ensuring a smooth transition.  

"Ali Nikkhoo's comprehensive background in multiple domestic and global trade routes brings unmatchable hands-on experience to this important Jones Act service," said Taylor. "In addition to his years spent in the U.S., Europe and Asia trades, he is well-known to many of our customers and associates. We welcome him to our team."

Mr. Taylor added: "Mar Labrador has been a long-time member of the Horizon team. I would like to thank him for his years of dedicated contributions to the company and wish him well in his future endeavors."

Mr. Nikkhoo joined Sea-Land in 1977, commencing the carrier's Iran service upon graduation from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. He moved onto positions in Madrid, Dubai, Houston and Baltimore before being named Port Manager in Long Beach in 1987. He then worked in Djakarta, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and London, serving in senior management positions that involved both operational and commercial accountability.

Mr. Nikkhoo joins Horizon from Honor Truck and Transfer Inc. in Long Beach, CA, where he was owner and president for eight years.

About Horizon Lines

Horizon Lines, Inc. is the nation's leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company. The company owns or leases a fleet of 20 U.S.-flag containerships and operates five port terminals linking the continental United States with Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, and Puerto Rico. The company provides express trans-Pacific service between the U.S. West Coast and the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai in China, manages a domestic and overseas service partner network and provides integrated, reliable and cost competitive logistics solutions. Horizon Lines, Inc., is based in Charlotte, NC, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HRZ.

SOURCE Horizon Lines, Inc.