Matson takes delivery of three new cranes

   Pacific shipping company Matson Inc. took delivery over the weekend of three 65 long-ton capacity gantry cranes at its Honolulu hub terminal at Sand Island.
   The cranes, built by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, were purchased in 2017 and are expected to go into service in the third quarter. They are part of a multiyear, $60 million terminal expansion and modernization project at Matson’s hub, which includes the upgrading of three existing cranes and a 30 percent expansion of its waterfront space.
   The terminal expansion and improvements to the gate, container yard, electrical system, cargo identification technology and other equipment are expected to be completed next year, according to Matson’s website. The project is tied to the deployment of four new ships between 2018 and 2020.
   Matson christened the 3,600-TEU containership Kaimana Hila last month, and it is expected to enter service later this month. Its sister ship, Daniel K. Inouye, went into service in November.
   Two additional ConRo ships — Lurline and Matsonia — are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.
   The new cranes, which weigh about 1,290 tons each, will enable full service of the company’s new, larger ships, Matson said.
   Matson reported an 8.6 percent increase in operating revenue in 2018 to $2.2 billion, but its net income dropped to $109 million in 2018 from $232 million the previous year.