MATSON BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON FIRST OF THREE NEW LNG-POWERED ALOHA CLASS CONTAINERSHIPS

Rhea-AI Summary

Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX) has begun construction on the first of three new Aloha Class containerships at Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania. This $1 billion investment is part of Matson's long-term decarbonization strategy. The vessels, designed for Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express services, will be Jones Act-compliant and delivered in 2026 and 2027.

The new ships will feature dual fuel engines capable of operating on conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with other green ship technology. With a capacity of 3,600 TEU and speeds exceeding 23 knots, these 854-foot vessels will replace three existing ships in Matson's fleet.

Matson aims to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The new ships will be named Makua, Malama, and Makena, continuing Matson's tradition of using Hawaiian names for its vessels.

Positive

• Investment of $1 billion in three new LNG-powered containerships
• New vessels designed to operate on both conventional marine fuels and LNG, supporting decarbonization goals
• Ships will have a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU and operate at speeds over 23 knots
• Vessels will help Matson achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal
• New ships will replace three older vessels, potentially improving operational efficiency

Negative

• Significant capital expenditure of $1 billion may impact short-term financial performance

$1 Billion investment part of long-term decarbonization strategy

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Matson, Inc. ("Matson"; NYSE: MATX) today announced the start of construction on the first of three new "Aloha Class" containerships designed for its Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express (CLX) services. After a small ceremony at Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania, the cutting of steel plates began, initiating the work to build the ships for delivery to Matson in 2026 and 2027.

The three new Jones Act-compliant vessels, representing an investment of approximately $1 billion, will be built to match the size and speed of Matson's two existing Aloha Class ships, Daniel K. Inouye, and Kamina Hila, which were also built by Philly Shipyard and entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively, as the largest containerships ever constructed in the U.S.

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 first vessel is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027.

"Our existing Aloha Class ships are among the fastest, most efficient vessels in the Matson fleet," said Matt Cox, chairman and chief executive officer. "And like their sisterships, these three new vessels will help Matson achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal while also providing additional capacity and speed benefitting our Hawaii service as well as the CLX."

Matson has set corporate goals to achieve a 40 percent reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050.

With a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU,* the 854-foot Aloha Class vessels are designed to operate at speeds in excess of 23 knots in support of Matson's service hallmark – fast and reliable delivery of goods. 

The three new Aloha Class ships will replace three vessels currently deployed in Matson's Hawaii and CLX services.

Philly Shipyard 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 we celebrate not only the beginning of production, but also the return of Matson to Philly Shipyard for our third project together," said Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard's President and CEO. "We are thrilled to build these next vessels which are expected to help Matson achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions goal, an initiative well-aligned with our commitment to people and planet."

Vessel Names Announced

Matson plans to name the three new containerships Makua, 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.  Most recently, Matson reused the names Lurline and Matsonia for its Kanaloa Class vessels delivered in 2019 and 2020 – the sixth and fifth vessels, respectively, to carry these historic names.

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.

* 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, provides service 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 custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout North America and Asia. Its integrated, asset-light 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.

Investor Relations inquiries: Justin Schoenberg Matson, Inc. 510.628.4234 jschoenberg@matson.com

News Media inquiries: Keoni Wagner Matson, Inc. 510.628.4534 kwagner@matson.com

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SOURCE Matson, Inc.

FAQ

When will Matson's new Aloha Class containerships be delivered?

The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026, with subsequent deliveries in 2027.

What are the names of Matson's new Aloha Class containerships?

Matson plans to name the three new containerships Makua, Malama, and Makena.

What is the carrying capacity of Matson's new Aloha Class ships?

The new Aloha Class vessels will have a carrying capacity of 3,600 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).

How do Matson's new ships support its environmental goals?

The new ships feature dual fuel engines that can operate on LNG, contributing to Matson's goal of reducing Scope 1 greenhouse gas fleet emissions by 40% by 2030.

Where are Matson's new Aloha Class containerships being built?

The new Aloha Class containerships are being constructed at Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania.