Administration States Support for Jones Act, Cargo Preference
More Jones Act tonnage is on the way, following the June 30 christening of the Seafarers-contracted containership Daniel K. Inouye at Philly Shipyard.
The Inouye is the largest U.S.-built containership (850 feet long, 3,600 TEUs). It is named in memory of the late U.S. Senator – and honorary SIU book holder – who was a longtime backer of the U.S. maritime industry and its role in supporting Hawaii’s economy. Inouye passed away in December 2012.
Among those attending Saturday’s ceremony for the SIU were Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone, Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi and Philadelphia Port Agent Joe Baselice.
Dr. Peter Navarro, assistant to the president and director of the White House Office of Trade & Manufacturing Policy, was a featured speaker. He also wrote an article prior to the ceremony in which he expressed the administration’s strong support for the Jones Act and cargo preference – and he pointed out that the Inouye was built with union labor. Read the article HERE
Other speakers included Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive officer; Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard president and CEO; Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby; Gen. Darren W. McDew, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command; and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
Matson invited Irene Hirano Inouye, Sen. Inouye’s widow, to officially christen the vessel by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull.
The Daniel K. Inouye is the first of two Aloha Class vessels being built for Matson at Philly Shipyard. When the yard announced the start of construction, it said in a news release that the new tonnage would constitute “Matson’s largest ships. They will also be faster, designed to operate at speeds in excess of 23 knots, helping ensure timely delivery of goods in Hawaii. Though bigger, the ships are also designed to accommodate future needs by being able to navigate safely into some of Hawaii’s smaller ports. The new vessels will incorporate a number of ‘green ship technology’ features that will help protect the environment, including a more fuel-efficient hull design, dual fuel engines that can be adapted to use liquefied natural gas (LNG), environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks and fresh water ballast systems.”
The second ship is scheduled for delivery in 2019.
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