U.S. shipping line Matson has kicked off the installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems, aka scrubbers, on six of its vessels deployed as part of its compliance strategy with International Maritime Organization (IMO) low sulphur fuel regulations that will take effect on January 1, 2020. Three of the vessels will receive the new equipment in 2019 and the … [Read more...]
Matson Christens Second Aloha-Class Containership at Philly Shipyard
U.S. shipping firm Matson (NYSE: MATX) christened the second of two Aloha Class containerships built for Matson at Philly Shipyard. The new vessel, named 'Kaimana Hila,' is the sister ship to 'Daniel K. Inouye,' which was christened in June and went into service in November of 2018. "Kaimana Hila" is Hawaiian for "Diamond Head," the name of Hawaii's iconic landmark crater … [Read more...]
Hull Cracks & Oil Spills From El Faro’s 46 Year Old Sister Ship
Thursday morning, shortly after mooring in Oakland, the hull of the 1,727 TEU Matson containership S/S Matsonia cracked spilling heavy fuel oil into San Francisco Bay. The vessel was built in 1973 by Sun Shipbuilding, one year before the doomed El Faro at the same shipyard using the same basic hull design. On Thursday the Matsonia's crew, noticed a sheen … [Read more...]
Largest U.S.-Built Containership Arrives in Hawaii for the First Time
The largest containership ship ever constructed in the United States arrived in Honolulu for the first time this week as part of its regular service connecting the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. The ship, named Daniel K. Inouye in honor of Hawaii's late senior U.S. Senator, is owned and operated by Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX), the leading U.S. carriers in the Pacific. It is the … [Read more...]
Whistleblowing Ship Master Wins Case Against Matson and Hails Seaman’s Protective Act as Powerful Tool to Require Ship Owners to Maintain Safe Ships
Captain John Loftus, an advocate for merchant marine safety, won a decision from the Administrative Review Board of the Department of Labor that sustained a $1.1 million judgment against a company that punished Loftus for reporting unsafe conditions aboard the company ships. The decision, delivered on May 24, 2018 may also open the gate wider for seamen to qualify for … [Read more...]