Pacific International Lines (PIL) has celebrated the naming of its latest 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Ocean, at a ceremony held at the PSA Terminal in Singapore.
The event coincided with Singapore’s 60th anniversary of nation-building and highlights PIL’s continued focus on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation within the maritime sector.
The naming was officiated by Ho Ching, Chairman of Temasek Trust. Kota Ocean is the sixth LNG dual-fuel vessel in PIL’s fleet and the second in a series of four 8,200 TEU “O” Class vessels currently under construction.
These new vessels are central to PIL’s strategy to renew its fleet and advance both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
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Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL, said, “We are grateful to Ms Ho Ching for honouring our company and our crew by naming our vessel, Kota Ocean.
“This naming of Kota Ocean represents a significant milestone in our fleet renewal programme, which further enhances our network deployment and operational capabilities to better serve customers. We are delighted to hold the ceremony in Singapore to commemorate SG60, which highlights our ongoing commitment to contributing to Singapore’s maritime industry and future.
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Kota Ocean will operate on PIL’s South West Africa service (SWS), linking ports in the Far East, including China and Singapore, with destinations in Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast. This trade route is expected to strengthen connections between Asia and Africa and support economic growth in both regions.
The vessel joins its sister ship, Kota Oasis, delivered in April 2025, along with four 14,000 TEU LNG vessels already in operation. PIL has a further 12 vessels on order, including two 8,200, five 13,000, and five 9,000 TEU ships to be delivered in the coming years.
PIL’s newbuilds are designed to use greener bio-methane fuels and are equipped with advanced exhaust recycling technology to reduce methane emissions.
Additional features, such as optimised hull forms and digital systems including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), aim to improve fuel efficiency, automation, and operational safety.
