Pacific International Lines (PIL) has placed an order for five new container vessels with a capacity of 13,000 TEU and dual-fuel engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The neo-Panamax-sized vessels are scheduled to be delivered in stages beginning in late 2026.
Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, a major Chinese shipyard, has been given the contract to build the ships.
According to PIL, modern vessels will be designed with efficiency, safety, and sustainability in mind, as well as the flexibility to handle the needs of various trips, weather conditions, and load capacities.
The Singaporean shipping company added that they will be outfitted with dual-fuel engines and auxiliaries that can run on both LNG and low-sulfur fuel oil.
Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL, said: “These latest orders are part of PIL’s fleet renewal strategy for larger and more eco-friendly vessel types. Together with another eight vessels we currently have under construction, we now have 13 new vessels that will contribute significantly towards our decarbonisation goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”
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The vessels will reportedly have the most recent technical and energy-saving features, such as an optimised hull form, variable-frequency drive (VFD) motors for larger pumps and ventilation blowers, low-energy LED lighting, and premium hull coatings.
When finished, the ships will comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newbuilds and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
Furthermore, the corporation stated that increasing digitalisation, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), has been included in task automation design and equipment.
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The vessels’ digital capabilities aim to help PIL’s Centre for Maritime Efficiency enhance vessel operations and routes, promote safety and security, and reduce energy consumption.
PIL is reportedly building four 14,000 TEU and four 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships. The first two of the 14,000 TEU vessels are scheduled to be delivered later this year.
Recently, PIL introduced a new weekly direct service connecting key ports in China and Bangladesh.
