Continuing with fleet expansion, Singapore-based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) has ordered five liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual fuel 9,000 TEU containerships in China.
As per a recently signed letter of intent (LOI), the mid-sized ships will be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, with deliveries expected in 2027 and 2028.
The boxships will cost $140 million each, according to information provided by Intermodal.
As disclosed, the new 9,000 TEU vessels are designed with “highly-optimized” cargo stowage features. They will also be built to achieve a high level of environmental sustainability. In addition to being LNG-powered, the vessels have the capability to transition to running on bio-methane , one of the lowest emission fuels available to the shipping industry today, PIL said.
The company has been pressing on with its fleet renewal program aimed at ordering eco-friendly vessel types that would help PIL reach the decarbonization goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
“With 18 newbuild vessels ordered in the last couple of years, PIL is demonstrating our commitment to renew, expand and modernise our fleet,” Lars Kastrup , CEO of PIL, commented.
“Our aim is to replace up to half our fleet in the next decade with modern new ships and charters. These ships are a significant step towards our green shipping goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, while increasing operational and cost efficiencies, improving services to our customers as well as enhancing the welfare of our crew.”
In August 2024, PIL also placed an order with Hudong-Zhonghua for five 13,000 TEU containerships to be powered by LNG dual-fuel engines. The vessels are planned to be delivered progressively from the end of 2026.
Similar to the earlier orders, these new vessels will be equipped with energy-saving features and advanced digital technologies.
Furthermore, the ships will comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newbuilds and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
With this latest order, PIL will have ordered a total of 18 newbuild vessels since 2022. These include four 14,000 TEU, four 8,000 TEU , five 13,000 TEU, and five 9,000 TEU vessels.
Two of the 14,000 TEU vessels, Kota Eagle and Kota Emerald, were named in a ceremony in mid-October 2024.
PIL took delivery of Kota Eagle, its first LNG-fueled container vessel, which had embarked on its maiden voyage on the West Coast Central and South America Service 2 in late October 2024.
In related news, PIL and China’s bunkering supplier Shanghai SIPG Energy Service (SSES) recently completed the inaugural bunkering of Kota Eagle. During the operation, the recently built 14,000 TEU Kota Eagle received about 8,000 cbm of LNG from the Hai Gang Wei Lai bunkering vessel.
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The article was amended on November 6 to state additional information provided by PIL.