Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. and Matson Inc. marked a milestone in the construction of the first of three new Aloha-class containerships with a keel-laying ceremony at the shipyard.
The vessels, ordered in November 2022 under a contract worth nearly $1 billion, are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028 and will be deployed in Matson's Hawaii, Guam, and China-Long Beach Express services.
During the ceremony, the first engine room section of the ship — weighing more than 460 tons — was lowered into the dry dock, officially beginning hull assembly.
Matson executives attending included Capt. Jack Sullivan, senior vice president of vessel operations and engineering, and Archibald Morgan, vice president of new construction and marine engineering. Hanwha Philly Shipyard was represented by CEO David Kim and project director John Bond.
"These new ships are just the latest Jones Act vessels Matson has built with Philly Shipyard over the past 22 years, supporting 1,500 jobs for skilled American workers and providing additional opportunities for American mariners," said Matt Cox, chairman and CEO of Matson.
"Our existing Aloha-class ships are among the fastest, most efficient vessels in the Matson fleet," added Cox. "These new vessels will expand Matson's Jones Act fleet and enhance our service capabilities in the Asia-U.S. trade lane, while providing additional capacity and speed, benefitting customers of our Hawaii and Guam services."
Each 854' Aloha-class vessel will have a capacity of 3,600 TEU and is designed for speeds exceeding 23 knots. The ships feature a fuel-efficient hull and dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from delivery.
The three new ships — to be named Makua, Malama, and Makena — will replace three existing vessels in Matson’s fleet. The names are drawn from Matson’s early 20th-century freighters and Hawaiian language tradition.
"Today's keel-laying marks more than the beginning of another great ship — it symbolizes the strength of our ongoing partnership with Matson and our shared commitment to American shipbuilding," said David Kim, CEO of HPSI. "We're honored that Matson has entrusted us with three series of ships, and we remain committed to excellence with every block."
Hanwha Philly Shipyard previously delivered Matson’s first two Aloha-class ships in 2018 and 2019, and four Jones Act containerships between 2003 and 2006. Since being acquired by Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean in 2024, the shipyard has expanded its capabilities as part of one of South Korea’s largest conglomerates.
