Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply a range of integrated technologies for three new 3600-teu LNG-powered containerships being built at Philly Shipyard for US shipping firm Matson Navigation.
The scope of supply includes a shaft generator system, and a battery energy saving system combined with a complete power management system, according to a statement by Kongsberg Maritime.
Moreover, the hybrid electrical systems will provide electrical power to the vessel’s main switchboard through the Kongsberg converters.
Kongsberg Maritime will also supply rotary vane steering gear and control systems, together with a full package of monitoring, automation and control systems for the LNG fuel gas supply control and safety systems, tank gauging, and instrumentation.
All systems on this package, including the vessels’ propulsion control and power management, will all be linked to the K-Chief integrated automation system from Kongsberg, it said.
Kongsberg Maritime did not provide the price tag of the deal.
Back in 2022, Matson ordered these three LNG-powered Aloha Class containerships at compatriot Philly Shipyard for about $1 billion.
Matson’s expects to take delivery of these Jones Act compliant vessels in the fourth quarter of 2026 with subsequent deliveries in 2027.
Also, the company claims the 260 meters Aloha Class vessels are the largest containerships ever built in the US. They can operate at speeds in excess of 23 knots.
These vessels will replace three ships currently deployed in Matson’s China-Long Beach Express (CLX) service.
LNG conversions
Besides these vessels, Matson is converting its existing ships to use LNG as fuel.
In February, Matson awarded a retrofit contract to Cosco Shipping Shipyard (Nantong) for the 2019-built 3,600-teu containership, Kaimana Hila, to enable the vessel to use LNG as fuel.
The Aloha Class containership is a sister vessel to Daniel K. Inouye, built in 2018 by US-based Philly Shipyard.
Daniel K. Inouye is Matson’s first retrofitted containership and it features three 1350-cbm type C LNG fuel tanks supplied by Singapore’s C-LNG Solutions and MAN’s 7S90ME-GI engine.
Last year, Cosco Shipping Shipyard (Nantong) completed the retrofit job on Daniel K. Inouye.
Besides these two vessels, Matson is working to replace the main engine on its containership Manukai with a dual-fuel engine.
The company previously said it is also considering LNG retrofitting projects for its Kanaloa Class vessels, Lurline and Matsonia.