PIL orders five LNG dual-fuel container ships from China

Singaporean shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) has ordered five LNG dual-fuel container ships from China’s Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.

PHOTO: Company representatives at the deal signing ceremony. PIL

The five vessels, each with a capacity of 13,000 TEU, will be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on both LNG and conventional marine fuels. These vessels are scheduled for progressive delivery starting from the end of 2026.

In addition to this order, PIL’s orderbook includes four 14,000 TEU and four 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels. All these vessels are being constructed in China.

PIL has not disclosed where these vessels will be deployed.

LNG has been gaining popularity among shipowners. The global LNG-fuelled fleet is currently made up of 557 vessels, with another 160 expected to join this year, classification society DNV data shows.

LNG can curb carbon dioxide emissions by about a quarter compared to conventional bunker fuels. But its methane emissions can be 36 times more potent as a greenhouse gas (GHG) compared to carbon dioxide over a century, according to a World Bank study.

By Tuhin Roy

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