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PIL said on Tuesday it is accelerating the renewal of its fleet with the latest order for five 9,000 teu LNG dual-fuel container ships.
It brings the company’s newbuild vessels ordered since 2022 to 18.
Hudong-Zhonghua will deliver the vessels in 2027 and 2028.
PIL did not provide further information regarding the order.
“With 18 newbuild vessels ordered in the last couple of years, PIL is demonstrating our commitment to renew, expand, and modernize our fleet,” said Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL.
“Our aim is to replace up to half our fleet in the next decade with modern new ships and charters,” he said.
Hudong-Zhonghua said in a separate statement the new ships will have 274 meters in length, a beam of 45.6 meters, and a depth of 24.8 meters,
Moreover, they will have a maximum capacity of 9,040 teu and can carry 1,308 reefer containers.
Equipped with LNG dual-fuel power propulsion system, the vessels will feature Hudong-Zhonghua’s 7600 cbm type B LNG fuel tanks.
LNG-powered fleet
LNG Prime reported on November 1, citing shipbuilding sources, that PIL was preparing to place a new order for LNG-powered containerships in China.
The price for each vessel is said to be about $140 million or $900 million for the entire order.
In August, PIL ordered five LNG dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of 13,000 teu at Hudong-Zhonghua.
The neo panamax-sized vessels are expected to be delivered progressively from end-2026.
These vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and auxiliaries able to run on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil.
Also, they will be equipped with 12,000-cbm B-type LNG fuel tanks developed by the shipbuilder.
In addition to these vessels, PIL previously ordered four 14,000 teu and four 8,200 teu LNG dual-fuel container vessels.
The firm recently named its first two LNG-powered container vessels in a ceremony at China’s Jiangnan.
PIL named the first vessel Kota Eagle and the second Kota Emerald.
With a capacity of 14,000 teu, they are the largest vessels in PIL’s fleet and also the first to run on LNG.
