U.S. carrier Matson Inc. has taken delivery of the M/V Matsonia, the second of two new Kanaloa Class “con-ro” ships built for Matson by General Dynamics NASSCO.
The Jones Act-compliant Kanaloa class ships are the largest of their kind ever built in the U.S. They join Matson’s two new Philly Shipyard-built containerships, Daniel K Inouye and Kaimana Hila, in completing the Hawaii fleet renewal.
Matsonia and sister ship Lurline are each 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet and weighing in at over 50,000 metric tons. They have an enclosed garage with room for approximately 500 vehicles, plus ample space for rolling stock and breakbulk cargo. Lurline entered service in January of this year.