Organization

6 Months Ended

Jun. 24, 2012

Organization and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization

1. Organization

Horizon Lines, Inc. (the “Company”) operates as a holding company for Horizon Lines, LLC (“Horizon Lines”), a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary, Horizon Logistics, LLC (“Horizon Logistics”), a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary, Horizon Lines of Puerto Rico, Inc. (“HLPR”), a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary, and Hawaii Stevedores, Inc. (“HSI”), a Hawaii corporation and wholly owned subsidiary. Horizon Lines operates as a Jones Act container shipping business with primary service to ports within the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii. Under the Jones Act, all vessels transporting cargo between covered locations must, subject to limited exceptions, be built in the U.S., registered under the U.S. flag, manned by predominantly U.S. crews, and owned and operated by U.S.-organized companies that are controlled and 75% owned by U.S. citizens. Horizon Lines also offers terminal services. HLPR operates as an agent for Horizon Lines in Puerto Rico and also provides terminal services in Puerto Rico.