US carrier Matson has launched the construction of its two new combination container and roll-on/roll-off (Con-Ro) vessels at General Dynamics NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego.
The “Kanaloa Class” ships were designed specifically for Matson’s Hawaii service. Construction of the first ship is scheduled to be complete in 2019, while the second containership will begin construction in 2018 with delivery in 2020.
The first vessel will be named Lurline, the sixth Matson vessel to carry that name, while the second vessel will be the company’s fifth named Matsonia.
The 870-foot-long, 3,500 TEU containership design provides the capability to transport containers, automobiles and rolling stock, including trailers.
In addition, the new vessels will have green technology features, including a fuel efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, fresh water ballast systems and dual-fuel engines, meaning that they will be able to operate at speeds up to 23 knots on either conventional fuel oils or liquefied natural gas (LNG) with some adaptation for LNG.
“Construction of these new ships underscores Matson’s commitment to serve Hawaii with the largest, most reliable and environmentally friendly vessels for the long-term,” Ron Forest, President, said.
“The Kanaloa Class is designed specifically to meet Hawaii’s freight demands while reducing our environmental impact and improving our efficiency for decades to come,” Forest added.