‘Matsonia’ Delivered to Matson, Completing Hawaii Fleet Renewal

U.S. carrier Matson Inc. has taken delivery of the M/V Matsonia, the second of two new Kanaloa Class “con-ro” ships built for Matson by General Dynamics NASSCO.

The Jones Act-compliant Kanaloa class ships are the largest of their kind ever built in the U.S. They join Matson’s two new Philly Shipyard-built containerships, Daniel K Inouye and Kaimana Hila, in completing the Hawaii fleet renewal.

Matsonia and sister ship Lurline are each 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet and weighing in at over 50,000 metric tons. They have an enclosed garage with room for approximately 500 vehicles, plus ample space for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. Lurline entered service in January of this year.

The Daniel K. Inouye and Kaimana Hila, part of Maton’s Aloha Class containerships, entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively, following delivery from Philly Shipyard. Each 850-foot long containership has a 3,600 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) capacity.

Matson has spent nearly $1 billion to monetize its Hawaii service. In addition to a nearly $930 million investment on the four ships, Matson is also investing more than $60 million in improvements to its Hawaii hub terminal at Sand Island in Honolulu, in conjunction with the State of Hawaii’s Harbors Modernization plan.

“Putting four new ships into service in a three-year span is a significant accomplishment that culminates eight years of planning, project management and coordination for teams across many departments at Matson,” said Matt Cox, chairman and chief executive officer. “Together with the modernization and expansion of our Honolulu terminal, these investments position Matson to provide efficient, reliable service to Hawaii for decades to come.”

Designed and built specifically for the Hawaii trade, all four of the new ships feature state-of-the-art green technology, including fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) compatible engines, and freshwater ballast systems. The Kanaloa Class vessels are also equipped with the first Tier 3 dual-fuel engines to be deployed in containerships regularly serving West Coast ports. Tier 3 engines reduce the levels of particulate emissions by 40 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 20 percent, as compared to Tier 2 standards.

The four new ships are also Matson’s fastest vessels, with the ability to operate at or above 23 knots, helping ensure on-time deliveries in Hawaii from Matson’s three West Coast terminals in Tacoma, Oakland and Long Beach.

Phase 1 of Matson’s Sand Island Terminal Modernization, which was completed this year, involved the installation of three new electrically powered gantry cranes and the upgrading of three existing cranes and the terminal’s power system. Phase 2, which will include improvements to the container yard and gate, will begin in 2021. In Phase 3, concurrent with the State’s completion of the new Kapalama Container Terminal, Matson will expand its waterfront and overall terminal footprint by 30 percent by acquiring adjacent piers 51A and B.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up