MATSON CHRISTENS NEXT ALOHA CLASS VESSEL 'MAKUA'
Key Highlights
- ➤$1 billion investment funds three new Jones Act-compliant Aloha Class containerships
- ➤Makua scheduled for delivery in Q1 2027 and service early next year
- ➤New vessels will increase capacity and operating reliability across Hawaii and CLX services
- ➤LNG-ready ships replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson’s Hawaii and CLX services
- ➤Each Aloha Class vessel carries 3,600 TEUs and reaches nearly 24 knots
Expert Statements
Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matson
“We look forward to putting Makua to work serving our customers early next year”
Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matson
“We're excited that adding three new Aloha Class ships to Matson's fleet over the next 18 months will improve operating efficiencies and reliability, and increase capacity in our core Hawaii service, as well as our China-Long Beach Express service. And we're proud that building them here supports hundreds of good-paying shipyard jobs and will provide more than 2,500 job opportunities for U.S. mariners over the lifespan of each ship.”
David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc.
“Today's christening of Makua is especially meaningful because Matson has been part of the story of this shipyard from its earliest days”
David Kim, CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc.
“Our partnership spans generations of vessels and reflects a shared commitment to American shipbuilding and the U.S. maritime industry. We are grateful for Matson's continued trust in our people, and incredibly proud of the skill and craftsmanship our workforce is bringing to Makua and the next generation of Aloha Class ships.”
Mark Johnson, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration
“Mark Johnson”
MATSON CHRISTENS NEXT ALOHA CLASS VESSEL 'MAKUA' PR Newswire
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX ), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI), a leading U.S. shipbuilder of ocean-going merchant vessels, christened the first of three new containerships being built for Matson's China-Long Beach Express (CLX) and Hawaii services in a ceremony at Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) on Saturday, October 10.
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