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According to a statement by PIL, Hudong-Zhonghua will build five LNG dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of 13,000 teu.
The deal was signed on August 16 and the neo panamax-sized vessels are expected to be delivered progressively from end-2026.
PIL did not provide the price tag of the deal.
The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and auxiliaries to be able to run on both LNG as well as low sulphur fuel oil.
Also, the vessels will incorporate the latest technological and energy-saving features including an optimized hull form, variable-frequency drive (VFD) motors for larger pumps and ventilation blowers, lower-energy LED lightings as well as premium hull coatings, PIL said.
In addition, increased digitalization such as artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) has been incorporated in the design and equipment for the automation of tasks.
Hudong-Zhonghua said in a separate statement the vessels will be 335 meters long, 51 meters wide, and with a depth of 27.2 meters.
They will be equipped with 12,000-cbm B-type LNG fuel tanks developed by the shipbuilder.
13 LNG-powered vessels
With this order, PIL is increasing its fleet of LNG dual-fuel vessels.
PIL currently has on order four 14,000 teu and four 8,200 teu LNG dual-fuel container vessels.
“These latest orders are part of PIL’s fleet renewal strategy for larger and more eco-friendly vessel types,” Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL said.
“Together with another eight vessels we currently have under construction, we now have 13 new vessels that will contribute significantly towards our decarbonization goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.
China’s Jiangnan Shipyard is building the 14,000 teu containerships for PIL with deliveries scheduled from the second quarter of 2024 through to the first half of 2025.
The first two of the 14,000 teu vessels are expected to be delivered later this year.
Following delivery, these vessels will be the first LNG-powered containership in PIL’s fleet.
VesselsValue data suggests that PIL will pay $160 million for each of the 14,000 teu vessels.
Besides these ships, PIL also ordered four ammonia-ready LNG-powered containerships at China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
The shipping firm will take delivery of these 8,000 teu ships progressively in 2025.
WinGD engines will power all of these eight LNG-powered containerships, and the vessels will also feature GTT’s Mark III membrane system.