Singapore’s Pacific International Lines has confirmed an order for four ammonia-ready LNG-powered containerships at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard.
LNG Prime reported in January, citing shipbuilding sources, that PIL and Jiangnan had signed a letter of intent for four firm 14,000 TEU ammonia-ready LNG-powered vessels. Sources said at that time that the final order would follow “very soon”.
PIL announced the award of the contract in a statement on Friday saying it would take delivery of the four ships progressively from the second quarter of 2024 through to the first half of 2025.
The vessels will feature dual-fuel engines and auxiliaries which can run on both LNG or LSFO.
PIL did not provide more data but sources previously said the ships would have WinGD dual-fuel engines and GTT’s Mark III membrane system.
Also, PIL confirmed the four vessels would feature ammonia-ready fuel tank which makes it possible to retrofit the vessels to run on ammonia once the technology becomes commercially available.
First LNG-powered container vessels for PIL
When delivered, the vessels will become the largest container vessels in PIL’s fleet and the first containerships to run on LNG.
The deal also marks the first cooperation between PIL and CSSC’s Jiangnan.
PIL, which has a fleet of around 100 container and multi-purpose vessels, did not provide the price tag of the deal.
Sources said that the firm would pay about $160 million for each of the LNG-powered containership.
Lars Kastrup, PIL’s co-president and executive director, said this contract marks the company’s plan to continue optimizing its fleet to serve customers in key markets.
At the same time, it is aligned to the company’s total commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by tapping on the latest technologies available.
“The LNG option represents an important step in PIL’s decarbonization journey, and as bio-LNG and e-methane as well as other technology solutions mature, we aspire to continue to be at the forefront of these developments to achieve the zero-emission target,” Kastrup said.
