Inouye News

Philly Shipyard on Monday held a steel-cutting ceremony to signal the start of construction on the first of three new Aloha Class liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled containerships to be built for U.S. ocean carrier Matson. Matson placed the $1 billion three-ship order with Philly Shipyard in 2022 following the deliveries of Aloha-class vessels Daniel K. Inouye and Kamina Hila from the same yard in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The shipyard also delivered four containerships to Matson between 2003 and 2006.“Today we celebrate not only the beginning of production…

U.S. ocean carrier Matson is doing its part to limit whale strikes, including rerouting vessels to avoid protected areas and helping to develop cutting-edge technology that detects whales and alerts crew members of their presence.In August of last year, Matson made route adjustments to its weekly triangulating Oakland-Long Beach-Honolulu voyage to minimize the time our vessels spend inside whale protection zones of the northern and southern California coasts. Fleet Operations…

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 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…

Investigators have located a Boeing 737-200 cargo jet that made an emergency water landing off the Hawaiian island of Oahu in the Pacific Ocean on July 2, the National Transportation Safety Board said on Friday.Transair Flight 810 was found approximately 2 miles offshore from Ewa Beach. The major components of the airplane -- the aft fuselage including both wings and tail along with both engines, and forward fuselage -- were located on the sea floor at depths between 360 and 420 feet…

The future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) completed acceptance trials February 4 after spending a day underway off the coast of Maine.INSURV inspected the ship during a series of demonstrations while pier side and underway. Many of the ship’s onboard systems, including navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems, combat systems, communications, and propulsion applications, were tested to validate performance and met or exceeded Navy specifications.“Following an outstanding Combined Alpha and Bravo trials this past December…

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…

Shipbuilder Bath Iron Works (BIW) has officially started construction of the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), the U.S. Navy announced. The new warship will be the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in the Flight III configuration at BIW.The milestone was marked by a ceremony on Tuesday at General Dynamics BIW's structural fabrication facility in Brunswick, Maine.Flight III destroyers will have improved capability and capacity to perform Anti-Air Warfare and Ballistic Missile Defense in support of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense mission.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces New Members of U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Advisory Board.U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced the appointment of seven new members to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Advisory Board. The USMMA Advisory Board serves as an independent body whose primary purpose is to examine the course of instruction and management of the Academy to further the accomplishment of its mission, execute its strategic plan…

A workshop, organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC), aimed to promote ratification of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979 (SAR Convention) in the region, was held (22-26 July) in Hawaii, United States. The 8th Regional Pacific SAR (PacSAR) Workshop was to identify gaps and promote common best practices in SAR services. A mass rescue operations sea and air search and rescue (SAR) exercise in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii  was just one key elements in the Workshop.Besides the practical MRO exercise, participants, including Pacific Island SAR administrators and coordinators…

Philly Shipyard (PSI), the unit of Philly Shipyard ASA, delivered the second dual-fuel Aloha Class containership, Kaimana Hila, to Matson Navigation Company.‘Kaimana Hila’ is the second of two 3,600 TEU “Aloha Class” containerships that were ordered by Matson. The first vessel, ‘Daniel K. Inouye,’ was delivered by PSI in October 2018 and is currently in service for Matson.“The delivery marks the successful conclusion of the construction of the two largest container vessels ever built in the United States,” remarked Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard President and CEO.“Matson is a first-class customer and on behalf of all of the men and women of the shipyard, we thank them for their trust and confidence in us.

Largest Containership Built in U.S. Will Serve HawaiiMatson, Inc. and Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI) christened the second of two Aloha Class containerships built for Matson in a ceremony at Philly Shipyard on Saturday, March 9. Dubbed Kaimana Hila, it is the sister ship to Daniel K. Inouye, which entered service in November of 2018. "Kaimana Hila" is a Hawaiian transliteration for "Diamond Head," the name of Hawaii's iconic landmark crater near Waikiki Beach. The ships cost $418 million for the pair…

Last week,The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) submitted written testimony to the Hawaii State Senate, in support of Senator Inouye's proposed bill SB1505, as discussed at a joint hearing of the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Military Affairs.The proposed statute, SB1505, would authorize the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) to make commercial harbor facilities temporarily available as a harbor of safe refuge when the National Weather Service forecasts a tropical storm or hurricane strength cyclones…

As of 31 December 2018, the two-containership order for Matson is approximately 95% complete. On 31 October 2018, Philly Shipyard delivered the first vessel (Hull 029) in the two-containership order for Matson. Philly Shipyard continued to idle certain operations and impose layoffs due to the lack of new orders after the Matson project.Key Financial Data:Fourth quarter and full year 2018 operating revenues and other income of USD 19.4 million and USD 129.2 million, respectively…

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a contract to build a fifth DDG 51 destroyer as part of the multi-year award announced in September. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).In the most recent multi-year competition, BIW was awarded four ships. The Navy held a separate competition for an option ship as part of its commitment to growing the fleet. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer will be funded in the Fiscal…

Matson, Inc. took delivery of the first of two new Aloha Class containerships built for Matson's Hawaii service at Philly Shipyard.Christened 'Daniel K. Inouye' in honor of Hawaii's late senior U.S. Senator, the vessel is the largest containership ever built in the United States. Weighing in at over 51,400 metric tons, the 850-foot long and 3,600 TEU capacity Daniel K. Inouye is Matson's largest ship and also its fastest, with a top speed in excess of 23 knots."This new ship, our fifth delivered by Philly Shipyard, is the product of a great partnership with the Philly team in designing and constructing a new class of containership that will set a new standard for cargo delivery in the Hawaii trade…

The U.S. Coast Guard is known for saving lives at sea, but did you know the service plays a huge role in the economy, too?As a regulatory entity, the Coast Guard conducts marine inspections on vessels entering United States ports to make sure the vessels do not pose a safety, security, or environmental threat to the country. With 90 percent of U.S. imports and exports entering or exiting the country by ship, these inspections ensure there is fuel at the gas station, food in the store and presents at birthday parties.But even before a ship ever gets in the water…

I was honored to be present in South Philadelphia on June 30 to witness the christening of the largest container ship ever built in the United States. It was built by Philly Shipyards for shipping company, Matson, Inc., and was named for the former Hawaii senator, war hero, and long-standing maritime champion Daniel K. Inouye. At a time when the U.S. maritime industry is fighting to keep its place among international competitors, this event was a momentous occasion. Built for the Hawaii trade…

Largest Containership Built in U.S. Will Serve Hawaii. Matson, a U.S. flag carrier in the Pacific, and Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI), the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA (Oslo: PHLY) christened the largest containership ever built in the United States in a ceremony at the Philly Shipyard on Saturday, June 30. The new vessel is named 'Daniel K. Inouye' in honor of Hawaii's late senior U.S. Senator, who was a longstanding supporter of the U.S. maritime industry and its important role in supporting Hawaii's economy. It is the first of two new ships being built for Honolulu-based Matson by Philly Shipyard at a total cost of approximately $418 million for the pair, and the first of four new vessels that Matson will put into its Hawaii service during the next two years.

On Monday, May 14, shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works held a keel laying ceremony for the U.S. Navy’s future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118). The $642.5 million Arleigh Burke-class destroyer DDG 118 has been under construction since October 2014 and is now over half completed. The 3,000-ton keel unit was moved onto the building ways from the Maine shipyard’s Ultra Hall earlier this year, signifying the start of hull integration and the precursor to integration, test and trials. The U.S. Navy named the ship in honor of Sen.

The U.S. Navy's newest next generation destroyer completed acceptance trials on February 1, marking a significant milestone for second Zumwalt-class stealth warship ahead of expected delivery in the coming months. The U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey reviewed the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and its crew during a series of demonstrations both pier side and underway, evaluating the ship's construction and compliance with Navy specifications. Many of the ship's onboard systems including navigation…

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works funding for the planning and construction of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, DDG 126 and DDG 127. The contract modification fully funds the two ships. DDG 126 was awarded under the contract that was part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51-class destroyers in 2013. DDG 127 was approved by Congress under separate legislation. Dirk Lesko, president of Bath Iron Works, said: “These contracts help to stabilize our business and are welcome news. The contract modification includes funding for the Flight III upgrades on DDG 126. There are currently four DDG 51 destroyers in production at Bath Iron Works: Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) and John Basilone (DDG 122).

The U.S. Navy’s USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) destroyer was commissioned at its homeport of San Diego, Calif., on Saturday, July 29. The vessel is powered by four GE LM2500 marine gas turbines. “This sophisticated new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is part of the U.S. Navy’s Flight IIA for the DDG 51 and it is powered by on our LM2500 – the world’s most reliable marine gas turbine – in a combined gas turbine and gas turbine or COGAG configuration,” said GE’s Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, General Manager, Marine Operations, Evendale, Ohio. “The U.S. The U.S.