Corvus Energy has been selected by Kongsberg Maritime to supply marine Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for Matson Navigation Company’s new LNG-powered Aloha Class containerships designed by Komac.
With a capacity of 3,600 TEU, the 260m Matson Aloha Class vessels are the largest container ships built in the US. Matson is expanding its current fleet of two Aloha Class vessels with the addition of three, new Jones Act-compliant container ships. The vessels will feature a next-generation, LNG-ready design that is optimised for energy efficiency and emissions reduction. Equipped with ‘green ship technology’ and dual fuel engines, the ships will be able to operate using either conventional marine fuels or LNG.
Due to the vessels’ large-scale size and energy-saving capacity, Matson’s expansion of the Aloha Class fleet is considered to represent an important advancement towards more sustainable shipping.
The new LNG-powered container ships play a key role in Matson’s emissions reduction strategy. The company set corporate goals to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 GHG fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050.
Fundamental to the vessels’ energy-efficient design, Kongsberg Maritime will supply a range of integrated technologies designed to optimise energy use and reduce emissions. Notably, each of the three new container ships will be equipped with a Kongsberg Maritime Hybrid Electrical System packaged solution that includes a Corvus Energy ESS.
Lasse Brynsrud, Senior Sales Manager, Marine Transportation, Kongsberg Maritime, said: “Matson Navigation Company, through investment in three new LNG-powered container ships, is making a clear commitment to decarbonise its operations. We are delighted to be supporting their environmental goals through the supply of a range of green ship technologies, like our hybrid shaft generator system. That, together with the batteries supplied by Corvus Energy, will optimise energy usage and reduce emissions.”
Each vessel will be outfitted with a 1492 kWh Corvus Orca system. The Corvus Orca ESS is said to be the most installed marine battery system worldwide, used onboard more than 700 vessels around the world.
Tor-Gunnar Hovig, SVP Sales Americas, Corvus Energy, said: “Corvus is pleased to have been selected by Kongsberg Maritime to supply energy storage for the Matson Navigation Company Aloha Class Containerships, which will help to reduce emissions generated by the largest container ships built in the United States.”
Within the shipping sector, Corvus Energy systems power hybrid merchant, cargo, bulk carrier, tanker and containership vessels operating around the world.
Hovig added: “While vessel electrification is more common for near shore applications, such as ferries and tugs, the use of battery systems within the shipping sector is also increasing, particularly due to advances in ESS technology and escalating focus on emissions reduction. This project with Matson is one example of trends we’re seeing towards hybridisation in the shipping sector.”
Construction is underway at Philly Shipyard for the first of the three new container ships, with vessels scheduled for delivery to Matson in 2026 and 2027. The new ships are being built to provide additional capacity and speed benefitting Matson’s Hawaii and China-Long Beach Express (CLX) service routes.
Image: Matson’s existing Aloha Class ship, ‘Daniel K. Inouye’ (credit: Matson Navigation Company, Kongsberg Maritime)
