Pacific International Lines (PIL), a Singapore-based container shipping company, has contracted China’s Huanghai Shipbuilding to build seven 1,400 TEU container ships.
The order forms part of PIL’s fleet renewal and expansion plans, with the vessels intended primarily for its Intra-Asia and Pacific Islands services.
At 172 metres long and 25 metres wide, the ships have been designed around the requirements of these regional trades, allowing them to serve smaller ports while maintaining connectivity with major transhipment hubs.
The newbuildings will be methanol-ready, giving PIL the option to transition to lower-emission fuels as supply and bunkering infrastructure become more widely available. Deliveries are scheduled for 2029-2030.
Each vessel will be fitted with pre-swirl vanes and propeller boss cap fins to improve propulsion efficiency and lower fuel consumption.
Additional equipment will include fixed fire water monitors and cargo hold water spray systems to improve onboard firefighting capabilities.
“The ships, equipped with energy-saving technologies and designed to be methanol-ready, will further optimise our operations while supporting our goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said PIL CEO Lars Kastrup.
He added that digital capabilities would support more efficient vessel operations and performance monitoring.
