Matson kicks off construction on first of three new LNG-ready Aloha Class containerships

Following a steel cutting ceremony at Philly Shipyard, Pennsylvania, U.S.-based transportation and logistics company Matson has commenced construction on the first of the company’s three new liquefied natural gas-ready (LNG) Aloha Class containerships, engineered for its Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express (CLX) services.

With an expected delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026 and sometime during 2027, the three new vessels—which represent a $1 billion investment for Matson—are said to be Jones Act-compliant, with a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU and speeds exceeding 23 knots.

As disclosed, the new vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines, capable of running on both conventional marine fuels and LNG, as well as other ‘green ship technology’, such as a fuel-efficient hull design, double hull fuel tanks, and freshwater ballast systems.

Unlike the earlier ships, however, which required some modification to operate with LNG, Matson has highlighted that the new boxships will be delivered LNG-ready.

Matson has revealed that these efforts are in line with the company’s all-embracing target of achieving a 40% emissions reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, and fulfilling its net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions goal by 2050.

As informed, the new 854-foot Aloha Class vessels are set to replace three ships that are currently deployed in Matson’s Hawaii and CLX services.

The new ships are reportedly being built to match the size and speed of Matson’s two existing Aloha Class vessels, Daniel K. Inouye, and Kaimana Hila, understood to be the ‘biggest containerships ever constructed in the U.S.’

The 260m long Daniel K. Inouye and Kaimana Hila were also built by Philly Shipyard, having set sail in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

“Today we celebrate not only the beginning of production, but also the return of Matson to Philly Shipyard for our third project together,” said Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard’s President and CEO.

“We are thrilled to build these next vessels which are expected to help Matson achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions goal, an initiative well-aligned with our commitment to people and planet.”

Although the upcoming additions to Matson’s fleet are yet to be formally christened, the company has already set their names aside. Continuing on the tradition of giving Hawaiian names to the vessels serving the state, Matson reportedly plans for the three boxships to be dubbed Makua, a Hawaiian name for a parent, elder, ancestor, or family, Malama, which means ‘to care’ or ‘to protect’, and Makena, which translates to ‘abundance’.

Matson has a custom of reusing vessel names from the early 20th century; Makua, Malama and Makena were, in fact, all freighters comissioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB), an emergency agency established by the 1916 Shipping Act to increase the number of U.S. vessels supporting the war efforts during World War I.

Those vessels were purchased by Matson in the 1920s and had remained active in its fleet for the next twenty years.

Most recently, Matson recycled the names Lurline and Matsonia for its 3,500 TEU Kanaloa Class vessels that were delivered in 2019 and 2020.

Weighing over 50,000 metric tons and measuring 265.1 meters in length, Matsonia is considered to be the ‘largest combination container/roll-on, roll-off (Con-Ro) ship ever built in the U.S.’