Honolulu-based shipowner Matson has christened the largest combination container/roll-on, roll-off (con-ro) ship ever built in the U.S. in a ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California.
During the ceremony, that was held on June 15, the new vessel was named Lurline. It is the first of two new Kanaloa Class-ships being built for the company by NASSCO.
The 3,500 TEU units were designed specifically for Matson’s Hawaii service. The second containership is scheduled for delivery in 2020.
At 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet and weighing in at over 50,000 metric tons, Lurline will be Matson’s largest ship and the largest con-ro vessel ever constructed in the U.S.
Both vessels will have an enclosed garage with room for around 500 vehicles plus ample space for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. They will 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 serving West Coast ports.
“The great speed, capacity and environmental improvements of this new ship position us well to serve the needs of our communities in Hawaii for many years to come,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer, after the shipyard ceremony.