Matson is touting its newest Philly Shipyard-built vessel as the largest US built containership ever.
The 3,600-teu Aloha class Daniel K Inouye was officially delivered to the Matt Cox-led, Hawaii-based shipowner Wednesday. The ship, named after the longtime Hawaiian senator, will begin service 22 November after a 13-day maiden voyage to Oakland via the Panama Canal.
Matson president Ron Forest said the new ship will "set a new standard for cargo delivery in the Hawaii trade".
The move is part of an overall fleet renewal effort from the Jones Act shipowner. In January, the company bought a 6-year-old, 500-teu deck cargo barge to replace an older one and the second Philly Shipyard-built containership is due for delivery early next year.
The Daniel K Inouye measures 850 feet long with top speeds greater than 23 knots.
The good news for Matson is bad news for Philly Shipyard. The Norwegian-traded builder had said previously the builds would be a "loss-making project" and it is still on the lookout for newbuilding deals.
