General Dynamics NASSCO has begun the construction of the first of two vessels ordered by the Matson Navigation Company at its shipyard in San Diego, US.

The construction of the 870ft-long Kanaloa-class containership will be carried out under a two-unit contract and is scheduled to be completed by 2019.

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"These Jones Act-qualified, Kanaloa Class vessels are designed specifically for our Hawaii service and we’re thrilled to partner with NASSCO on their development."

The vessel will have capacity of 3,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to facilitate the carrying of containers, automobiles and rolling stocks such as trailers.

It will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) capable main and auxiliary engines, which are compliant with International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Tier III emission standards.

In addition, the vessel will be designed to allow for the installation of an LNG fuel gas system at a future date.

Matson president Ron Forest said: “These Jones Act-qualified, Kanaloa Class vessels are designed specifically for our Hawaii service and we’re thrilled to partner with NASSCO on their development.”

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The construction of the company’s second Kanaloa-class containership is expected to begin next year with delivery planned for 2020.

In addition, NASSCO has collaborated with Daewoo Ship Engineering Company to provide Matson with improved ship design and shipbuilding technologies.

The partnership has built a number of ships for five separate Jones Act owners to date.

NASSCO previously delivered the final ECO Class tanker of an eight-vessel, dual-customer programme to American Petroleum Tankers (APT) in June.