UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 3, 2011

HORIZON LINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

4064 Colony Road, Suite 200

Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

(704) 973-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 4, 2011, Horizon Lines, Inc. disclosed that its previously announced exchange offer and consent solicitation expired on October 3, 2011, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time. As of the expiration of the exchange offer, 99.3% of the $330.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2012 (the “2012 convertible notes”) had been tendered into the exchange offer and consent solicitation.

As part of the exchange offer, the company has also secured consents from participating holders of the 2012 convertible notes to remove substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default from the indenture governing the 2012 convertible notes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also declared the Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, effective. The company intends to complete the exchange offer as soon as possible, but in no event later than October 6, 2011, at which time it expects to close the entire refinancing.

A copy of the press release relating to expiration of the exchange offer documents is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.

Important Information

The press release attached to this Form 8-K and the contents of this Form 8-K do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The exchange offer was made solely by the prospectus and the related letter of transmittal that was filed with the SEC in connection with the exchange offer.

Forward Looking Statements

The information contained in the press release attached to this Form 8-K and the contents of this Form 8-K should be read in conjunction with our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate solely to historical fact. They include, but are not limited to, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, achievements or events. Words such as, but not limited to, “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “would,” “could,” “must,” “may,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause expected results or anticipated events or circumstances discussed in the press release to not occur or to differ from expected results include: the ability of the parties to agree on the final terms of the refinancing; our ability to close on the refinancing; our ability to satisfy other conditions of the refinancing, including satisfaction of any remaining diligence requests; the ability of the investors to fund the refinancing; general conditions in the capital markets; general economic conditions; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity to operate our business; volatility in fuel prices and in freight rates; decreases in shipping volumes; our ability to remain Jones Act compliant because of changes in ownership; or our ability to continue as a going concern.

All forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties. In light of these risks and uncertainties, expected results or other anticipated events or circumstances discussed in the press release might not occur. The forward-looking statements included in the press release attached to this Form 8-K and the contents of this Form 8-K are made only as of the date they are made and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements, except as otherwise required by applicable law. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2011 for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. Those factors and the other risk factors described therein are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

5