/C O R R E C T I O N - Matson, Inc./

The approximately $1 billion fleet investment will replace three vessels currently deployed in Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express services.

Rhea-AI Summary

Matson (NYSE: MATX) christened Makua on October 10, the first of three new containerships for its Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express services.

The vessels represent an investment of approximately $1 billion and will replace three ships currently deployed in those services. Makua is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027, followed by the second ship in the third quarter of 2027 and the third, expected in the second quarter of 2028. Matson expects the additions to improve operating efficiency and reliability and increase capacity in both services. Hanwha Philly Shipyard is building the vessels, which will be delivered ready to operate on liquefied natural gas.

3 points · 1 major

MixediHow this balance works

How this balance works

Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.

It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.

Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.

How the balance worksHow Sentiment works

1 major · 1 point

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Major point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Matson expects three new ships to improve operating efficiency and reliability and increase Hawaii and CLX capacity.
• Minor pointMakua christened October 10, marking a milestone for the three-vessel fleet modernization program.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Delivery schedule: Makua first quarter 2027; second ship third quarter 2027; third expected second quarter 2028.

Negative

• Major pointApproximately $1 billion investment funds construction of the three replacement containerships. 15% of market cap

Key Figures

Vessel program investment: Approximately $1 billion New vessels: 3 Vessel capacity: 3,600 TEU +1 more

Vessel program investment

Approximately $1 billion

Three new Aloha Class vessels

New vessels

3

Containerships being built for Matson's Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express services

Vessel capacity

3,600 TEU

Aloha Class containership capacity

Scheduled deliveries

Q1 2027; Q3 2027; Q2 2028

First, second, and third vessels, respectively

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: May 05

1 event

1. May 05

   Vessel construction

   24h Move

   -1.9%

   Earlier build milestones documented the same three-ship program's investment, capacity, and delivery schedule.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

jones act-compliant, dual fuel engines, liquefied natural gas, teu

4 terms

jones act-compliant regulatory

"Matson's three new Jones Act-compliant vessels"

A vessel or operation that meets the U.S. Jones Act’s requirements is built, registered, owned and crewed by U.S. interests so it can legally move goods or passengers between U.S. ports. For investors, Jones Act compliance matters because it restricts which ships and companies can serve domestic routes, often raising costs, limiting competition, and creating regulatory barriers that affect revenue, asset value and market access.

dual fuel engines technical

"equipped with dual fuel engines designed to operate"

Engines designed to operate on two different fuels, typically a gaseous fuel (like natural gas or LNG) and a liquid fuel (like diesel), using a single combustion system that can switch between fuels or burn a controlled mixture. In most commercial designs the gaseous fuel supplies the main combustible charge while a small amount of liquid fuel acts as a pilot to initiate combustion; fuel delivery and electronic controls manage switching, proportions, and ignition. The term differs from some “bi‑fuel” setups that carry two independent fuel systems and run on only one fuel at a time; performance, emissions, and allowable fuel mixes depend on the engine’s design and regulatory approvals.

liquefied natural gas technical

"conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG)"

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled into a liquid so it can be shipped and stored more easily—think of it like condensing a bulky gas into a compact, refrigerated form for transport. It matters to investors because LNG supply, shipping capacity, and long-term contracts influence energy prices, company revenues, and exposure to geopolitical or infrastructure risks, much like how a clogged highway can delay deliveries and raise costs.

teu technical

"3,600-TEU*-capacity Aloha Class containerships"

TEU stands for twenty-foot equivalent unit, a standard measure of containerized cargo capacity equal to one 20-foot long shipping container. Investors use TEUs to compare the size, throughput and utilization of ships, ports and logistics networks—think of it as counting parking spots for containers—which affects revenue potential, shipping costs and the flow of goods that influence supply chains and company earnings.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

In the news release, MATSON CHRISTENS NEXT ALOHA CLASS VESSEL 'MAKUA', issued 12-Oct-2026 by Matson, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

MATSON CHRISTENS NEXT ALOHA CLASS VESSEL 'MAKUA'

First of Three New Containerships Will Enter Service in 2027

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. 

At the ceremony, Matson board member Jenai Wall officially christened the vessel 'Makua' by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne against the ship's hull before a gathering of approximately 300 attendees including U.S. Maritime Administration Deputy Administrator Mark Johnson, Matson and HPSI executives, shipyard workers and union leaders. Speakers included U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Deputy Commander Lt. General Jered P. Helwig.

Representing an investment of approximately $1 billion, Matson's three new Jones Act-compliant vessels are being built to match the size and speed of Matson's two existing Aloha Class ships, Daniel K. Inouye, and Kaimana Hila, which were also built by HPSI and set a new standard for cargo transportation in Hawaii when they entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively, as the largest containerships ever constructed in the U.S.

Weighing in at over 51,400 metric tons, Matson's 850-foot long and 3,600-TEU*-capacity Aloha Class containerships are also Matson's fastest vessels, with a top speed of nearly 24 knots, helping ensure on-time deliveries in Hawaii and industry-leading transit times from Asia to the U.S. West Coast. 

Like their sisterships, the new vessels will be equipped with dual fuel engines designed to operate on either conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as other "green ship technology" features, such as a fuel-efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, and freshwater ballast systems. While the earlier ships required some modification to operate with LNG, the new ships will be delivered LNG-ready.

The three new ships will replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson's Hawaii and CLX services. Makua is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027; the second ship is scheduled to deliver in the third quarter of 2027, and the third is expected in the second quarter of 2028.

"We look forward to putting Makua to work serving our customers early next year," said Matt Cox, chairman and chief executive officer. "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."

HPSI is a leading U.S. commercial shipyard constructing vessels for operation in the domestic Jones Act trade lanes. Prior to Matson's first two Aloha Class ships, the shipyard delivered four newly built Jones Act containerships for Matson between 2003 and 2006.

"Today's christening of Makua is especially meaningful because Matson has been part of the story of this shipyard from its earliest days," said David Kim, CEO of HPSI. "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."

Matson plans to name the other two new containerships Malama and Makena. Founded in 1882 as a Hawaii-focused business, Matson has a long tradition of giving Hawaiian names to its vessels serving Hawaii, and also reusing vessel names from the early 20th century. 

Matson's original ships named Makua, Malama, and Makena were all freighters commissioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB), an emergency agency established by the 1916 Shipping Act to increase the number of U.S. ships supporting the war effort during World War I. They were purchased by Matson in the 1920s and remained active in the Matson fleet for the next two decades.

Makua ("mah-KOO-ah") is a Hawaiian word for parent, elder, ancestor, or family.
Malama ("MAH-lah-mah") is a Hawaiian word meaning to care for or protect.
Makena ("Mah-KEN-ah") is a Hawaiian word for abundance.

More information on Makua and Matson's fleet modernization program is available at www.Matson.com.

* TEU = Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, the standard unit of measurement for container capacity

About Matson

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline of ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, which includes cargo from other Asia origins, provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Alaska to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout North America and Asia. Its integrated logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, supply chain management, and freight forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

About Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. (HPSI) is a leading U.S. shipbuilder with a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility that has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of ocean-going merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going U.S. Jones Act commercial ships since 2000.

The Shipyard is part of Hanwha Group, a multinational company with a robust network of affiliates in the energy, ocean, aerospace, finance, and retail & services industries.

For more information, visit www.hanwhaphillyshipyard.com.

Correction: In the third paragraph the spelling of Kaimana Hila has been corrected.

Matson Investor Relations inquiries:	Matson News Media inquiries:	Hanwha Philly Shipyard Media inquiries:
Justin Schoenberg	Keoni Wagner	Kelly Whitaker
Matson, Inc.	Matson, Inc.	Philly Shipyard, Inc.
510.628.4234	510.628.4534	215-875-2640
jschoenberg@matson.com	kwagner@matson.com	kelly.whitaker@phillyshipyard.com

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/matson-christens-next-aloha-class-vessel-makua-302906159.html

SOURCE Matson, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

When will Matson's new containership Makua be delivered?

Makua is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027. The second vessel is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2027, and the third is expected in the second quarter of 2028.

How much is Matson investing in its three new Aloha Class ships?

The three new vessels represent an investment of approximately $1 billion. They will replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson's Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express services.