Philly Shipyard wins deal to build Aloha-class container vessels
Illustration of the Aloha-class LNG dual-fuelled container vessel for Matson (Source: Philly Shipyard)
U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard has won an order from shipping company Matson Navigation to build three 3,600-TEU Aloha-class container vessels powered by LNG dual-fuel engines. The order is worth about US1 billion. The new vessels are contracted for delivery in 2026 and 2027.
They will be used in Jones Act sailings in U.S. waters. Under the Jones Act, ships operating in U.S. waters must be built and maintained in U.S. yards. According to Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer, these new vessels will be built specifically for the China-Long Beach Express service.
Measuring about 285m long, the three new vessels will match the length of the two existing Aloha-class ships, currently the largest Jones Act container ships ever constructed. They are capable of carrying a variety of container sizes and operating at speeds of over 23 knots. The vessels will operate on either conventional marine fuels or LNG and will incorporate other green ship technology, supporting Matson's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The contract award further bolsters Philly Shipyard’s current order backlog, consisting of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) for Tote Services LLC and one Subsea Rock Installation Vessel (SRIV) for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC. With the three-boxship contract from Matson, Philly Shipyard’s order book is now the largest in its 25 year history at over USD 2 billion.
