Three more Matson Inc. containerships are expected to be built within the next five years, after the Honolulu-based shipping company announced Nov. 2 that its subsidiary, Matson Navigation has inked agreements with Philly Shipyard Inc. for construction of a trio of 3,600-TEU Aloha Class container vessels for ships for about $1 billion.
Philly Shipyard is East Coast builder that constructed Matson’s two other 854-foot Aloha Class vessels, which came into service in 2018 and 2019. Philly Shipyard also built four Jones Act containerships for Matson between 2003 and 2006, the company said.
“Our existing Aloha Class ships are among the fastest, most efficient vessels in the Matson fleet,” company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox said. “These new Jones Act compliant vessels will be built specifically for our China-Long Beach Express service, and like their sisterships, are expected to help Matson achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal while also providing additional capacity and speed benefitting our Hawaii service as well as the (China-Long Beach Express shipping route).”
The new ships, like the previous vessels, are expected to be outfitted with dual fuel engines that can run on either traditional marine fuel or LNG.
The first containership is set for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by anticipated deliveries in 2027, Matson said.
