HAWAII's Matson shipping line said it had taken delivery of the container/ro-ro (con-ro) ship, the Lurline with a 3,500-TEU container capacity and car deck holding 500 vehicles, reports American Shipper.
Built at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, the Lurline is the largest con-ro ever built in the United States. A sister ship, Matsonia, is also under construction at NASSCO and is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2020. Matson said it is paying US$500 million for the pair.
The new con-ro ships will replace older container ships that Matson modified by adding car decks.
Along with two containerships that were built at Philly Shipyard and delivered in 2018 and 2019, the con-ros are part of a fleet renewal project. By adding these larger, more modern ships, Matson said, it will be able to replace its current 10-ship deployment between Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach to Honolulu with a nine-ship deployment.
The Lurline will make its maiden voyage to Hawaii, departing Oakland and Long Beach on January 9 and 11 respectively, and arriving in Honolulu on January 15.
The Lurline is 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet. It is now Matson's largest ship. It is also one of Matson's fastest vessels, with a top speed of 23 knots, which Matson said will help ensure on-time deliveries in Hawaii.
WORLD SHIPPING
Built at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, the Lurline is the largest con-ro ever built in the United States. A sister ship, Matsonia, is also under construction at NASSCO and is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2020. Matson said it is paying US$500 million for the pair.
The new con-ro ships will replace older container ships that Matson modified by adding car decks.
Along with two containerships that were built at Philly Shipyard and delivered in 2018 and 2019, the con-ros are part of a fleet renewal project. By adding these larger, more modern ships, Matson said, it will be able to replace its current 10-ship deployment between Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach to Honolulu with a nine-ship deployment.
The Lurline will make its maiden voyage to Hawaii, departing Oakland and Long Beach on January 9 and 11 respectively, and arriving in Honolulu on January 15.
The Lurline is 870 feet long, 114 feet wide (beam), with a deep draft of 38 feet. It is now Matson's largest ship. It is also one of Matson's fastest vessels, with a top speed of 23 knots, which Matson said will help ensure on-time deliveries in Hawaii.
WORLD SHIPPING