Matson News

Kongsberg to Supply Hybrid Electrical Systems for Matson's New Box Ships

Matson Navigation Company’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containerships will feature a comprehensive range of integrated technologies from Kongsberg Maritime to optimize energy use and reduce emissions.The Norwegian company announced Tuesday that it will supply hybrid electrical systems, controlled and operated by its Energy Management System, for a series of three 3,600 TEU vessels that are being built by Philly Shipyard for the U.S.-based shipowner. The Kongsberg Maritime scope of supply includes a Shaft Generator System…

MacGregor Cargo Handling Equipment Ordered for Matson Containerships

MacGregor announced on Friday it has landed a contract from SM Solutions/Philly Shipyard to supply cargo handling solutions for three 1,822 FEU sized containerships.MacGregor’s scope of supply encompasses design, hardware and supply for hatch covers, lashing bridges, deck stanchions, fixed and removable cell guides in hold and container fixed fittings. Deliveries are scheduled to commence during the fourth quarter of 2024 and completed within 2026, the company said."We are excited about this order…

Matson Adjusts Its Sailing Schedule to Increase Whale Safety

U.S.-based Pacific shipping company Matson announced it has adjusted its sailing routes to help reduce the risk of whale strikes off the coast of California.Shipping channels into and out of San Francisco Bay and the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex transit federally protected national marine sanctuaries. These sanctuaries –Monterey Bay, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries–are destination feeding areas for threatened and endangered humpback and blue whales from late spring through the fall.In 2015…

2023 US Shipbuilding Report

Much has changed since Marine News’ 2022 shipbuilding report published in March last year, and business opportunities in certain market segments continue to grow. But the shipyards that are looking to cash in are still facing many of the same challenges.For example, many American shipyards and their partners throughout the shipbuilding supply chain are still finding it difficult to attract and retain the workers they need. If you’re a skilled craftsperson looking for a job in shipbuilding, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of openings at shipyards across the country.

Matson Exercises Option for Dual-fuel ME-GI Retrofit

Matson Navigation Company has confirmed that it will convert the main engine aboard its containership Kaimana Hila from an MAN B&W S90ME-C10.5 unit to a dual-fuel ME-GI unit capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). In doing so, it is exercising an option contained in a contract it signed with MAN Energy Solutions in June 2022 to perform an identical conversion on a sister ship, the Daniel K. Inouye. The Kaimana Hila was built in 2019 and MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division…

Matson Orders Three LNG-fueled Containerships from Philly Shipyard

U.S.-based ocean carrier Matson announced it has placed a $1 billion order with Philly Shipyard for the construction of three new 3,600 TEU Aloha Class containerships.The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027.Matson, which aims to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 by 2050, said the three newbuilds will be equipped with dual fuel engines that are designed to operate on either conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Rival of Container Shipper Matson Can Proceed with Antitrust Lawsuit

Two Matson Inc subsidiaries must face claims from rival container shipping company American President Lines LLC that Matson is abusing its market power over service from the United States to Guam, a federal judge ruled in an antitrust lawsuit.The ruling Friday by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., declined to dismiss claims against Matson Navigation Company Inc and Matson Logistics Inc brought by American President Lines last year seeking unspecified monetary damages for alleged violations of U.S. competition law.The court dismissed parent company Matson Inc as a defendant.Honolulu-based Matson, a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, in 2021 recorded revenue of more than $3.9 billion.

Containership Leaking Lubricant in Alaska

A U.S.-registered containership is reportedly leaking lubricant into the water near Anchorage, Alaska.On Thursday evening, personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center received a notification that the 645-foot Maunalei was leaking lubricant while transiting to the Port of Alaska. The vessel, owned by Matson, Inc., was said to be discharging a biodegradable, environmentally acceptable lubricant (EAL) at a rate of approximately six gallons per hour. Given the low toxicity of the lubricant…

Marine Propulsion: Matson Inks Deal Plus Option for ME-GI Retrofit

Matson Navigation Inc. and MAN Energy Solutions signed a contract for the retrofit of the main engine aboard its 2018-built containership Daniel K. Inouye. MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division, MAN PrimeServ, will retrofit the 3,600 teu vessel’s MAN B&W 7S90ME-C engine to an MAN B&W 7S90ME-GI type capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel oil. The contract includes an option for a second vessel.Operation on LNG is projected to reduce the Daniel K Inouye’s CO2 emissions by 24% with a maximum…

US Names New Members to Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this week announced the appointment of 25 new members to the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC). The MTSNAC Charter will advise the Secretary, through the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator, on ways to identify and address impediments hindering the effective use of short sea transportation. The MTSNAC’s counsel comes as the Biden-Harris Administration takes aim at tackling inflation and reducing the cost of goods in the country…

New Container Barge Launched for Matson

Matson's new flat-deck container barge was christened and launched during a ceremony at the Greenbrier Gunderson Marine shipyard in Portland, Ore. on Saturday, April 23, 2022.The new barge, christened Haleakala, will be deployed in Matson’s Neighbor Island service in Hawaii starting this summer, connecting cargo to and from the U.S. West Coast through its hub terminal in Honolulu.With a carrying capacity of 620 TEU and room for 72 refrigerated containers, the new Haleakala is…

American Maritime Partnership Announces New Leadership Team

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a trade group for the U.S. domestic maritime industry, announced the election of new leadership for the organization. Ku’uhaku Park takes the helm as president, and he is joined by new vice president Jennifer Carpenter, and Sara Fuentes who will serve dual roles as secretary and treasurer. Elected officers will hold their positions for a two-year term.“I am humbled to have been elected by my peers to lead the American Maritime Partnership and carry this banner at such a consequential time for our industry…

Matson Targets Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2050

U.S.-based Matson, a carrier in the Pacific, said this week it will reduce its fleet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2030, and achieve net zero fleet GHG emissions by 2050.The Honolulu-headquartered company joins peers such as Denmark-based Maersk and Switzerland-based MSC on a growing list of international shipping companies to reveal decarbonization plans that go beyond the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target to reduce overall GHG emissions from ships by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.Shipping…

Borealis Finance Sells Containership for $16,4M

Borealis Finance, a company that owns a fleet of bulk and container vessels, has sold one of its containerships.The Oslo-listed firm said Thursday that the 2,824 TEU containership Bomar Bellini had been sold for $16,4 million."The vessel was today successfully delivered to new owners," Borealis Finance said, without disclosing the name of the buyer.The vessel was built in 2007 by Hyundai Mipo. It was previously known as Santa Bettina and Cap Byron.Data from VesselsValue suggest that the vessel has been sold to Global Ship Lease, and also that its new name is Matson Molokai. According to AIS, the vessel is currently in Long Beach, California…

Video: Containership Crew Member Medevaced Off Washington

A U.S. Coast Guard said it medevaced a woman from a containership off the Washington coast Saturday after she was having difficulty breathing and experiencing temporary unconsciousness.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center received a call at 11:30 a.m. from the ship’s health insurance provider stating the 65-year-old woman required medical attention.At the time, the 710-foot container ship, Matson Kodiak, was transiting westbound in the Strait of Juan…

US Maritime Industry Praises Biden's 'Buy American' Order

President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order aiming to use government spending to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create markets for new technologies, in a move widely praised by America's maritime industry.The executive order, titled Strengthening "Buy American" Provisions, Ensuring Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers", calls for increasing the amount of U.S. content that must be in a product for it to be considered made in America under existing "Buy American" requirements.

Matson Takes Delivery of New Con-ro Matsonia

Matson has taken delivery of Matsonia, the second of two new Kanaloa Class combination container / roll-on, roll-off (con-ro) ships built for the U.S. carrier at General Dynamics NASSCO's San Diego shipyard. Weighing in at over 50,000 metric tons, Matsonia and Lurline are each 870 feet long, with 114 feet beam and a deep draft of 38 feet. The sister ships have an enclosed garage with room for approximately 500 vehicles, plus ample space for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. Lurline…

US Shipyards See Big Business Shifts

The American shipbuilding scene, filled with participants constructing all manner of vessels, has been navigating through stormy times (lately, yards along the Gulf Coast have literally been dealing with storms). The orders for newbuild, repair and conversion projects continue to flow in—albeit at a reduced pace—and the boats and ships go down the ways into the water, but the overall panorama has seen tremendous sea changes as the business has shifted.Maritime businesses worldwide have been grappling with currents both internal and external.

Matson Promotes Ashton

U.S.-based ocean carrier Matson announced it has promoted Marc Ashton to the role of Director, Equipment, Vehicle and Reefer Operations.Ashton will be responsible for planning and directing all container equipment positioning efforts, including container equipment fleet, equipment control, asset management, and inland logistics departments, throughout the Matson network. He will also manage Matson’s company-wide vehicle operations and all processes and systems related to automobiles…

Matson Promotes Jarek to VP of Fleet Operations

U.S. based ocean carrier Matson announced it has promoted Tracy Jarek to the position of vice president, fleet operations.Jarek joined Matson in 2001 and over 19 years earned multiple promotions to key positions including manager, fleet operations; manager, Hawaii container operations; and director, equipment, vehicle, and reefer operations.Jarek will oversee Matson’s 23-vessel fleet deployment throughout the Pacific, including the coordination of vessel schedules with our terminal operations…

Jones Act Does Not Raise Cost of Living in Hawaii -Study

The Jones Act has no significant impact on the cost of living in Hawaii, according to a recent report produced by economists from Boston based Reeve & Associates (Reeve) and Hawaii based TZ Economics.“The Impact of the Jones Act on Hawaii” also found that freight rates in the U.S. mainland-Hawaii trade lane have declined in real terms over the last 10 years, while the Jones Act has delivered positive and substantial economic contributions, including job creation, new infrastructure investments…

Containership Crew Rescues Sailors 825 Miles off Hawaii

The crew aboard a U.S.-flagged containership rescued three sailors from a 50-foot trimaran that became disabled in the Pacific Ocean, about 825 miles northeast of Oahu, last week.At 8 a.m., last Tuesday, U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Honolulu received a report from a friend of the trimaran’s master stating the vessel, Third Try, had not made contact since Monday. The three mariners aboard were attempting a nonstop circumnavigation of the globe, and their last known position was between California and Hawaii.Watchstanders issued a SafetyNET broadcast notifying merchant vessels in the region…

OVI: 103 Tons of Garbage Removed From North Pacific Gyre

Ocean Voyages Institute’s marine plastic recovery vessel, S/V KWAI, docked at the port of Honolulu at the end of June after a 48-day expedition successfully removing 103 tons (206,000 lbs.) of fishing nets and consumer plastics from the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone (more commonly known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or Gyre).The Pacific Gyre, located halfway between Hawaii and California, is the largest area with the most plastic, of the five major open ocean plastic accumulation regions…