Matson and Hanwha Philly Shipyard have christened Makua, the first of three new Aloha Class containerships being built for the carrier’s Hawaii and China–Long Beach Express services.
Matson board member Jenai Wall officially christened the vessel during a ceremony at the Philadelphia shipyard on 10 October. Around 300 guests attended the event, including government representatives, company executives, shipyard employees and union leaders.
Matson advances fleet renewal programme
The three Jones Act-compliant vessels represent an investment of approximately US$1 billion. They will replace three ships currently operating across Matson’s Hawaii and China–Long Beach Express networks.
Makua is scheduled for delivery during the first quarter of 2027. The second vessel is expected in the third quarter of 2027, followed by the third ship in the second quarter of 2028. The other two vessels will be named Malama and Makena.
“We look forward to putting Makua to work serving our customers early next year,” said Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matson.
He added that the three vessels would improve operating efficiency, reliability and capacity across the carrier’s core services.
Aloha Class specifications
The new Aloha Class ships will offer a capacity of 3,600 TEUs and measure approximately 259 metres in length. With a top speed approaching 24 knots, they will rank among Matson’s fastest vessels.
Each ship will feature dual-fuel engines capable of operating on conventional marine fuel or LNG. Additional environmental features include a fuel-efficient hull design, double-hull fuel tanks and freshwater ballast systems.
Unlike Matson’s two existing Aloha Class vessels, which required modifications for LNG operation, the three new ships will be delivered LNG-ready.
