Aloha-Class container vessels from Philly Shipyard

The contract would include two options for repeat vessels. Negotiations are underway about definitive contracts for the ships which will be used for Jones Act sailings to Hawaii. Jones Act rules compel ships operating between U.S. ports to be built in U.S. yards. The design aims to be cost-effective and environment-friendly, the yard said. Philly Shipyard has already started construction of these vessels to support a rapid delivery dates of 2020 and 2021. The yard said earlier this year it was building the vessels speculatively. (New Ships 25/2017). The identity of the shipping operating company is not being disclosed at this time. These vessels are the continuation of the series of two similar 3,600-TEU Aloha-Class container ships currently under construction at Philly Shipyard for Matson Navigation of Honolulu to use in the Hawaii trade. The confirmation of the latest letter of intent is subject to agreement by the parties on definitive documents and fulfilment of certain closing conditions, the yard said. The letter provides for a period of exclusivity to negotiate and complete this transaction. Currently services on Pacific between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland are dominated by only two shipping lines, Matson Inc. and the Pasha Group. Some U.S.-flagged container ships now transporting cargoes to Hawaii are old and by 2020 will not meet tighter pollution emissions standards.