| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aloha-class freighter |
| Builders | Philly Shipyard |
| Operators | Matson, Inc. |
| Cost | US$209,000,000 per ship [1] |
| Built | 2013- |
| In service | 2018- |
| In commission | 2018- |
| Planned | 5 |
| Building | 3 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 50,794 DWT [2] |
| Length | 854 ft 0 in (260.30 m) |
| Installed power | 2 Hyundai 6H27DF 2 Cummins QSK19 |
| Propulsion | LNG powered engines 1 MAN 7S90ME |
| Speed | 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) |
The Aloha class is a pair of cargo ships built by Philly Shipyard for Matson. The vessels are the largest of their type to be built in the United States.
Matson placed the $418 million order for the two ships in November 2013. [3] In October 2015, the ceremonial first steel cutting took place, with both ships to be built roughly in parallel until their deliveries in late 2018. [4] The first vessel, Daniel K. Inouye, was christened on 30 June 2018, though outfitting work continued until late in the year. [2] [5] She was delivered on 1 November, and made her first voyage to Hawaii later in the month. [6] The second ship, Kaimana Hila, was christened on 9 March 2019, [7] and entered service in August. [8] Matson operates both ships from continental United States ports to Hawaii and Guam. [9] [8]
At 854 feet (260 m) in length, and with a deadweight tonnage of 50,794 DWT, Aloha-class ships are the largest container ships ever built in the United States. [2] Each ship has a cargo capacity of 3,600 TEUs and is powered by a dual fuel engine, burning either diesel fuel or liquefied natural gas, that gives a service speed of about 23 knots (26 mph). [9] [2]