Daniel-K.-Inouye

Hawaii's Matson line, a leading US ocean carrier in the Pacific, has welcomed the first of four newbuilds, which now stands as the biggest boxship - at 3,600 TEU - ever built in the United States, reports the American Journal of Transportation.Named in honour of Hawaii's late US Senator, the Daniel K Inouye is 850-foot long vessel of 51,400 tonnes with a top speed of 23 knots.The arrival also marks the beginning of a nearly US$1 billion investment by Matson in its Hawaii service over the next few years, with the four new ships completing a renewal of its Hawaii fleet, and a terminal expansion and modernisation project at its Sand Island facility in Honolulu."

Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI), the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA (Oslo: PHLY), on Oct. 31 delivered the first of two 3,600 TEU Aloha Class containerships that PSI is building for Matson Navigation Company, Inc. (Matson)

Matson, Inc., a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, and Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI), the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA (Oslo: PHLY) christened the largest containership ever built in the United States in a ceremony at the Philly Shipyard on Saturday, June 30. The new vessel is named ‘Daniel K. Inouye’ in honour of Hawaii’s late senior U.S. Senator, who was a longstanding supporter of the U.S. maritime industry and its important role in supporting Hawaii’s economy. It is the first of two new ships being built for Honolulu-based Matson by Philly Shipyard at a total cost of approximately $418 million for the pair, and the first of four new vessels that Matson will put into its Hawaii service during the next two years. “This is a proud day for all of us at Matson,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer, at the shipyard ceremony. “Over our first 136 years, Matson’s fleet has evolved from sailing ships to larger steamers to diesel power, consistent with changes in technology and always evolving in step with the needs of a growing Hawaii economy.