Matson Christens Dual-Fuel Containership Makua | Mariner News
Matson and Hanwha Philly Shipyard christened the 3,600 TEU containership Makua on Saturday, October 10, marking the lead unit in a new series of three dual-fuel, Jones Act-compliant vessels. This christening represents a significant step in Matson’s strategic US$1 billion fleet renewal program, designed to enhance operational efficiencies and capacity across its core services.
Makua is slated for arrival in the first quarter of 2027. Her sister ships, Malama and Makena, are scheduled for delivery in Q3 2027 and Q2 2028, respectively.
The new vessels are purpose-built for Matson’s Hawaii and China–Long Beach express service, where they will directly replace three existing ships. A notable second-order implication of this fleet upgrade is the cascading of these displaced vessels, which will subsequently take the place of three older units currently serving Matson’s Alaska trade.
This multi-tier vessel replacement strategy strengthens Matson’s overall operating profile across vital domestic trades. According to Matson Chairman and CEO Matt Cox, the integration of Makua and her sisters over the next 18 months is expected to improve operating efficiencies, enhance reliability, and increase capacity in both the core Hawaii and China-Long Beach express services.
Designed to match the dimensions and speed of Matson’s existing Daniel K. Inouye and Kaimana Hila, which entered service in 2018 and 2019, the new ships each feature a length of 850 feet (260 metres). Their dual-fuel capability is key to delivering the promised operational efficiencies, aligning with modern fleet trends.
