PIL: First dual-fuel 14,000 TEU boxship bunkered with LNG

Singaporean shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) and China’s bunkering supplier Shanghai SIPG Energy Service (SSES) have completed the inaugural bunkering of PIL’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container vessel, Kota Eagle.

The ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering operation was conducted at the Yangshan port in Shanghai on October 26, 2024.

During the operation, the recently built 14,000 TEU Kota Eagle received about 8,000 cbm of LNG from the Hai Gang Wei Lai bunkering vessel.

The use of LNG as a marine fuel has been described as “a pragmatic option enabling the shipping industry to achieve tangible and immediate reduction in carbon emissions”. This LNG bunkering operation is said to underscore the commitment of both companies to achieving the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) net zero emissions target by 2050.

The ABS-classed Kota Eagle, which is on its maiden voyage, is the first vessel in PIL’s fleet to be powered by LNG. It was built at Jiangnan Shanghai Changxing HI shipyard in China and named in mid-October together with its sister vessel, the 14,000 TEU dual-fuel Kota Emerald.

Both 116,300 dwt newbuilds fly the flag of Singapore and feature a length of 355 meters and a breadth of 51 meters, data provided by VesselsValue shows.

Following the bunkering, Kota Eagle will sail to Ningbo and depart for Latin America on PIL’s West Coast Central and South America Service 2 route.

“The completion of PIL’s first LNG bunkering operation, together with our continued investments in a newbuilding programme focused exclusively on greener dual-fuel vessels, demonstrate PIL’s commitment to sustainable shipping. We believe the expedient transition to cleaner fuels is achieved through collaboration between various stakeholders in the value chain,” Chia Yuijn, Head of Sustainability, Decarbonisation and Marine Fuels, PIL, commented.

“The successful LNG bunkering operation for the Kota Eagle marks a significant beginning for our partnership. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with PIL. Together, we are not just powering ships but also driving towards a cleaner and more sustainable tomorrow,” Zhang Da, General Manager of SSES, added.

PIL currently has two more 14,000 TEU and four 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel units under construction in China.

In August 2024, the shipping company also ordered five LNG dual-fuel 13,000 TEU containerships at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. The vessels are planned to be delivered progressively from the end of 2026.