The following is text of a news release from Philly Shipyard Inc. (PSI):
(PHILADELPHIA) — Philly Shipyard Inc., the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA, delivered Kaimana Hila to Matson Navigation Co. on Friday. Kaimana Hila is the second of two 3,600-TEU Aloha-class containerships that were ordered by Matson. The first vessel, Daniel K. Inouye, was delivered by PSI in October and is currently in service for Matson.
“Today’s delivery marks the successful conclusion of the construction of the two largest container vessels ever built in the United States,” said Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard president and CEO. “Matson is a first-class customer and on behalf of all of the men and women of the shipyard, we thank them for their trust and confidence in us. By all measures, Kaimana Hila will be another wonderful addition to Matson’s fleet, servicing the containership trade between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii.”
Kaimana Hila is the 30th vessel built at Philly Shipyard in the company’s 20-year history. Measuring 850 feet long, it is built with dual-fuel engines that can be adapted to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is designed to operate at speeds in excess of 23 knots.
Philly Shipyard and Matson previously partnered on the construction of four containerships that were delivered between 2003 and 2006. All four of those vessels are currently servicing Matson’s Pacific trade.
