First new Matson ship to join Hawaii service

First new Matson ship to join Hawaii service    A new vessel built by Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. for the U.S. Jones Act shipping line Matson Navigation Co. has commenced its delivery voyage, and is currently traveling from the U.S. East Coast to the West Coast via the Panama Canal.
   The 2,600-TEU “Manukai” will then enter Matson's U.S. mainland/Hawaii service, with the inaugural voyage scheduled for Oct. 1 from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
   The ship is the first to be built by Matson for years.
   The vessel is the first of two new U.S.-built ships ordered for Matson’s Hawaii service. Each of the two diesel-powered vessels cost about $110 million.
   The Matson ships are also among the few containerships ordered from U.S. shipyards. The Jones Act requires U.S. domestic carriers to use U.S.-built, U.S.-flag    and U.S.-owned vessels.