Matson’s LNG-ready Kaimana Hila floated Nov 2018
Matson, Inc., a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, and Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI), the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA, has christened the second of two Aloha Class containerships built for Matson. It is equipped with dual-fuel engines that can be adapted to use liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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. In addition to LNG-ready engines, both vessels have double hull fuel tanks, fresh water ballast systems and a more fuel efficient hull design.
The two ships were built for Honolulu-based Matson by Philly Shipyard at a total cost of approximately $418 million for the pair, and are the first of four new vessels that Matson will put into its Hawaii service during the next 18 months.
Weighing in at over 51,400 metric tons, the 850-foot long and 3,600 TEU capacity Kaimana Hila and Daniel K. Inouye are Matson’s largest ships and the largest containerships ever constructed in the U.S. They are also Matson’s fastest vessels, with a top speed of nearly 24 knots, helping ensure on-time deliveries in Hawaii from Matson’s three West Coast terminals in Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach.
The christening of the new vessel was conducted at Philly Shipyard of March 9.
Related article: LNG-Ready Aloha Class Vessel Named at Philly Shipyard
