Matson Will Convert Trailership To Combination Containership-RO/RO

Matson Navigation Company of San Francisco has announced plans to convert its 700-foot trailership Matsonia to a combination lift-on/ lift-off containership and roll-on/ roll-off cargo carrier, and enlarge the vessel to provide nearly three times her present capacity.

Plans approved by the company's board of directors call for redelivery of the reconstructed vessel by the fall of 1987, "to meet the increasing requirements of our customers in the West Coast-Hawaii trades," Matson president John C. Couch said.

The reconstruction, which will be done in an American shipyard, will be similar to the 1982 lengthening and conversion of the Matsonia's sister ship Lurline. It will also incorporate the improved fuel economy and cargo capacity features added to the Lurline in 1984.

"The success of the Lurline has demonstrated the efficiency and flexibility we can expect from addition of the Matsonia to the fleet as a LO/LO-RO/RO carrier," Mr.

Couch said. "The fleet of two combination carriers and our four big containerships will be the most efficient ever to serve the trade, and will provide the capability of increasing our sailing frequency from all West Coast ports." The converted Matsonia will carry about 1,320 twenty-four-foot equivalents, similar to the Lurline, but will have "garage" storage space for 366 automobiles, compared with 237 on the Lurline. Both vessels were built in 1973 by Sun Shipbuilding as RO/RO trailerships.

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