In keeping with long-standing shipbuilding tradition, a ceremony will be held to christen the fourth containership built at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard for Matson Navigation Company. With the breaking of a champagne bottle across its hull, the vessel will be christened the MV Maunalei by Mrs. Mary Mildred “Millie” Akaka, wife of Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii.
The Maunalei, which means “Mountain Flower” in Hawaiian, is 681 feet long and weighs over 44,000 tons when fully loaded. Beginning in August, the vessel will be deployed in Matson’s Hawaii-Guam-China service alongside the other three containerships constructed by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. The yard, located on the site of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard, has now produced four commercial container vessels and is currently constructing the first three vessels in its 10-ship product tanker order for lease to Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.