Matson uses LNG as ‘bridge fuel’ to net-zero ambitions

American shipowner Matson reported in January the main engine crankshaft of Manukai had been removed in preparation for the installation of a new LNG dual fuel engine, and the container ship’s conversion to burn LNG as a fuel.

“The re-engineering project is an important investment in Matson’s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% in the next seven years,” said the shipping company.

Manukai is one of three Aloha-class that will be converted by the Big board-listed marine transportation firm to LNG dual-fuel propulsion under a multi-million-dollar programme. It’s also considering converting two Kanaloa-class ships, Lurline and Matsonia.

The first box ship to be converted, Daniel K. Inouye, received its first LNG bunkering at the Port of Long Beach in September, and Kaimana Hila will go to dry dock in Q2 2024 to for its LNG retrofitting, according to Matson.

“The re-engineering project is an important investment in Matson’s strategy for reducing emissions”

Singapore-based C-LNG Solutions is supplying the LNG fuel gas supply systems (FGSSs) for the conversions. Daniel K. Inouye was fitted with three 1,350 m3 IMO Type C LNG fuel tanks with in-tank pumps and a tank gauging system, low-pressure vapouriser and buffer tank, glycol-water system, N2 system, bunker stations, automation and control system, ship-to-shore link, as well as a gas detection system for the main and auxiliary engines.

The conversion was performed by MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division MAN PrimeServ, and will see the box ship’s existing MAN B&W S90ME-C10.5 prime mover swapped for a two-stroke, LNG dual-fuel ME-GI unit.

Dual-fuel newbuilds

Matson is also investing US$1Bn in the construction of three LNG dual-fuel Aloha-class container ships at Philly Shipyard. The fuel tanks in these vessels are being designed to accommodate carbon-neutral or renewable fuels.

Among the largest container ships ever built in the US, the first of the three 260-m, 3,600-TEU, box ships will be delivered in Q4 2026, with subsequent ships handed over in 2027.

In making the substantial investments to convert its existing LNG-ready ships and build new LNG-ready ships, Matson chairman and chief executive, Matt Cox, noted it was just the start of the liner company’s decarbonisation journey.

“We recognise that LNG is not the ultimate solution for achieving our long-term goal of net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions for our owned fleet,” said Mr Cox. “To get there, we are working collaboratively with industry partners on potential fuel sources of the future. While no easy answers are readily available, we are working to make our transition to a zero-carbon future a reality,” he added.

Matson’s long-term goals are to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 fleet emissions by 2050.

Matson said adopting the use of LNG across its fleet as a ‘bridge fuel’ to future, lower-carbon alternative fuels is a major part of its strategy to meet its emissions-reduction goals.