Matson brings Mokihana vessel back into service
Matson Navigation Co.’s MV Mokihana vessel has re-entered the company’s Hawai‘i service following modification. It contains a new auto garage, which is expected to increase the company’s roll on/roll off, or ro-ro, capacity by 1,200 autos.
The fleet enhancement is part of a multi-phase program begun in 2003 that provides Matson’s auto customers two essential service features: frequency of service and ro-ro capacity. Matson has also invested in an above-deck garage for its S.S. Lurline, made shoreside facility improvements and developed a new information technology platform for auto shipments.
The diesel-powered Mokihana is one of the largest vessels in the Matson fleet.
“With the addition of garage capacity, the combination vessel will provide the fastest and most economical method of shipping vehicles,” Dave Hoppes, senior vice president of ocean services, said in a press release.
Matson introduced ro-ro service to Hawai‘i in 1973 and is the state’s leading carrier for both containers and automobiles. Matson has multi-year agreements with Ford Motor Co. and General Motors for the carriage of their vehicles to and from Hawai‘i. The Ford agreement includes Volvo cars, Jaguar and Land Rover. Matson also has multi-year agreements with Dollar Thrifty Group, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Nissan.