GHG Emissions, Industrial, Sourcing Renewables  -  October 1, 2024

Matson Plans to Add LNG-Run Ships

Matson, Inc. announced the start of construction on the first of three new "Aloha Class" containerships designed for its Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express (CLX) services. 

Like their sisterships, the new vessels will be equipped with dual fuel engines designed to operate on either conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as other "green ship technology" features, such as a fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks and freshwater ballast systems. While the earlier ships required some modification to operate with LNG, the new ships will be delivered LNG-ready.

The ships are scheduled for delivery to Matson in 2026 and 2027, with the first vessel expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027.

The three new Jones Act-compliant vessels, representing an investment of approximately $1 billion, will be built to match the size and speed of Matson's two existing Aloha Class ships, Daniel K. Inouye and Kamina Hila, which were also built by Philly Shipyard and entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively, as the largest containerships ever constructed in the U.S.

"Our existing Aloha Class ships are among the fastest, most efficient vessels in the Matson fleet," said Matt Cox, chairman and CEO, in a statement. "And like their sisterships, these three new vessels will 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 CLX."

Matson has set corporate goals to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 GHG fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050.

With a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU, the 854-foot Aloha Class vessels are designed to operate at speeds in excess of 23 knots.

The three new Aloha Class ships will replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson's Hawaii and CLX services.