Matson has reached a significant milestone in its fleet modernization program with the christening of the Makua at Hanwha Philly Shipyard on October 10. The vessel is the first of three new containerships included in an investment of approximately $1 billion, aimed at upgrading the carrier’s services connecting Hawaii and the China–Long Beach trade route.
The 850-foot ship is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027. With a capacity of 3,600 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and a maximum speed approaching 24 knots, the Makua is designed to reinforce Matson’s operational capabilities across its core shipping networks.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MATX, Matson plans to use the three new Aloha Class vessels to replace ships currently operating on its Hawaii and China–Long Beach Express services. The fleet renewal is expected to increase capacity while improving operational efficiency and service reliability.
A milestone for Matson and its shipbuilding partner
The christening ceremony was led by Matson board member Jenai Wall, who broke a traditional bottle of champagne against the vessel’s hull. Around 300 guests attended the event, including shipyard employees, union representatives, company executives and Mark Johnson, deputy administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Lieutenant General Jered P. Helwig, deputy commander of U.S. Transportation Command, also addressed attendees.
Matson Chairman and Chief Executive Matt Cox said the company looked forward to putting the Makua into service early in 2027. He added that the arrival of three new Aloha Class vessels over the following 18 months would strengthen operating efficiency and reliability while expanding capacity in both the company’s principal Hawaii service and its China–Long Beach Express network.
Deliveries scheduled through 2028
The Makua is the first of three vessels planned under the shipbuilding program. The second ship is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2027, while the third is expected in the second quarter of 2028. Matson has selected the names Malama and Makena for the two remaining vessels.
All three ships will comply with the Jones Act, the U.S. law governing domestic maritime transportation and requiring qualifying vessels operating between U.S. ports to meet specific ownership, construction and operational requirements.
The new vessels will share the dimensions and speed characteristics of Matson’s existing Aloha Class ships, the Daniel K. Inouye and the Kaimana Hila, which entered service in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Both earlier vessels were also constructed at the Philadelphia shipyard.
Dual-fuel technology and improved fuel efficiency
The new Aloha Class containerships will feature dual-fuel engines capable of operating on conventional marine fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG). Matson has confirmed that the ships will be delivered LNG-ready, eliminating the need for the type of modifications required to enable LNG operation on the earlier Aloha Class vessels.
Their technical specifications will also include fuel-efficient hull designs, double-hull fuel tanks and freshwater ballast systems. These features form part of the company’s broader effort to improve operating performance and reliability as it renews its fleet.
A partnership spanning decades
The order further strengthens Matson’s longstanding relationship with the Philadelphia shipyard, now owned by South Korea’s Hanwha group.
The facility delivered four containerships to Matson between 2003 and 2006 before building the carrier’s first two Aloha Class vessels. The latest three-ship program continues a partnership that has played a significant role in the development of Matson’s U.S.-flag fleet.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard CEO David Kim described the Makua christening as particularly meaningful, noting that Matson had been associated with the shipyard since its early years. He said the relationship, built across successive generations of vessels, reflected both companies’ commitment to American shipbuilding and the U.S. maritime industry.
A name rooted in Matson’s history
The Makua also brings back a name from Matson’s early history. The original vessel bearing the name was one of three freighters acquired by the company during the 1920s, with the names of those historic ships subsequently selected for the new Aloha Class vessels.
According to Matson, Makua is a Hawaiian word associated with a parent, elder, ancestor or family.
With the first new ship now christened and deliveries of its two sister vessels scheduled through 2028, Matson’s investment represents both a continuation of its long relationship with American shipbuilding and a strategic effort to strengthen capacity, efficiency and reliability across its key shipping services.
