Matson orders three LNG-ready container ship newbuilds

US shipping company Matson has ordered three 3,600 TEU LNG-ready container ships from US-based shipbuilder Philly Shipyard for around $1 billion.

PHOTO: Model of LNG-fuelled container ship. Matson

The order was placed through Matson’s subsidiary Matson Navigation Company. The first of the vessels is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026 followed by deliveries in 2027.

These are Aloha-class container ships, the largest of its type to be built in the US., and will feature dual-fuel engines capable of running on both conventional marine fuels and liquefied natural gas (LNG). These differ to previous Aloha-class vessels built by Philly Shipyard that require modifications to run on LNG.

Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer Matt Cox said these vessels will help the company “achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.” The company intends to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) fleet emissions by 40% by 2030, and eventually make measures towards net zero by 2050.

The three container ships will replace three vessels currently deployed on the China-Long Beach Express (CLX) service.

LNG appears to be the preferred near-term alternative fuel choice for a lot of container ship owners. Among the 840 LNG-powered vessels registered in classification society DNV's database, 211 are container ships. This is almost double the total for the second -biggest vessel type (112 car carriers) and third-biggest (89 crude oil tankers).

In September, Singapore-based shipping company Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) ordered four 1,400 teu LNG-fuelled container ships for a charter deal with US logistics company Crowley Maritime.

By Tuhin Roy

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