SAN DIEGO, July 6, 2020 — General Dynamics NASSCO and Matson, Inc., christened the second of two Kanaloa-class vessels, the largest combination container / roll-on, roll-off (“con-ro”) ships ever built in the United States, in a ceremony at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, CA on Thursday, July 2, 2020.
The new vessel was christened ‘Matsonia,’ an iconic name in Matson’s long history, dating to the construction of Matson’s first ship of that name in 1912.
The new Matsonia is the second of two new ships being built for Honolulu-based Matson. Named in honor of the ocean deity revered in the native Hawaiian culture, Matson’s two “Kanaloa-class” vessels constructed at the NASSCO shipyard are built on a 3,500 TEU* vessel platform.
At 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet and weighing in at over 50,000 metric tons, Matsonia will join Lurline as Matson’s largest ships, with a top speed of 23 knots.
Both new Kanaloa-class vessels will have an enclosed garage with room for approximately 500 vehicles, plus ample space for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. They will also feature state-of-the-art green technology, including a fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, fresh water ballast systems and the first Tier 3 dual fuel engines to be deployed in containerships regularly serving West Coast ports.
Under the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements for engine manufacturers, Tier 3 engines reduce the levels of particulate emissions by 40 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 20 percent, as compared to Tier 2 standards. Matson’s deployment of Tier 3 engines in both Kanaloa-class vessels is supported by California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
“Matson is already benefitting from the speed, capacity and improved environmental profile of the three new ships we’ve put into service since 2018,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer, after the shipyard ceremony. “Matsonia will be our fourth new ship, completing a three-year fleet renewal program that positions us well to serve the needs of our communities in Hawaii for many years to come.”
“As a proud U.S. company and Jones Act carrier, our investment in this new ship is about much more than maintaining a high level of service to Hawaii. It also helps drive substantial economic benefits in and opportunities in communities around the Pacific, where this vessel will operate,” Cox said.
Dave Carver, President of General Dynamics NASSCO, said, “The Matsonia is a reflection of the highest standards of shipbuilding and we are proud to celebrate her launching. This extraordinary vessel is a testament to the hard work, unity and strength of our thousands of dedicated shipbuilders who made this possible.”
Peggy Forest, wife of Matson’s President Ron Forest, officially christened Matsonia by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull.
Delivery of the Matsonia is expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.
* Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, the standard unit of measurement for container capacity
About Matson
Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates a premium, expedited service from China to Southern California and provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific. The Company’s fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson’s transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.
About General Dynamics NASSCO
General Dynamics NASSCO has been designing, building, and repairing ships since 1960. Today, the company conducts work in four ports in the United States and around the world. NASSCO is the largest shipyard on the West Coast of the United States conducting design, new construction and repair of ships. In the past decade, NASSCO delivered more than 30 ocean-going ships to government and commercial customers—including the world’s first LNG-powered containerships and several other lead ships.
More information about NASSCO can be found at nassco.com.
More information about General Dynamics can be found at www.generaldynamics.com.
Matson 602 – Christening and Launch from General Dynamics NASSCO on Vimeo.
