China's Huanghai Shipbuilding Secures Order for 7 Feeder Container Ships from Singapore's Pacific International Lines

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 5, Singapore's Pacific International Lines (PIL) signed a shipbuilding agreement with China's Huanghai Shipbuilding for the construction of 7 methanol-ready 1,400 TEU feeder container ships, with total order capacity reaching 9,800 TEU. The new vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030 and will be deployed on intra-Asia and Pacific island country routes. The order will be built by Huanghai Shipbuilding.

According to the ship design, the new vessels have a length of 172 meters and a beam of 25 meters, designed to meet regional feeder transport requirements. Feeder container ships primarily handle container transshipment between large hub ports and surrounding small and medium-sized ports. The 7 vessels ordered will supplement PIL's regional transport capacity in the Asian and Pacific island country markets, enhancing its route network's coverage of ports of different sizes.

The new vessels feature a methanol-ready design, retaining technical conditions for future use of methanol fuel. It should be noted that methanol-ready does not mean the vessels will be equipped with methanol dual-fuel main engines at delivery, and PIL has not yet announced the specific propulsion configuration at delivery or future fuel conversion plans. As alternative fuel supply and port bunkering infrastructure gradually develop, the methanol-ready design can provide options for subsequent adjustments to the vessels' propulsion systems.

The new vessels will also be equipped with energy-saving devices including pre-swirl stators and propeller boss cap fins, reducing fuel consumption by optimizing water flow around the propeller and the operating conditions of the propulsion system. Additionally, the vessels will be fitted with digital operational monitoring systems, as well as fixed fire water monitors and cargo hold water spray systems, for monitoring vessel operating conditions and cargo hold fire protection, respectively.

PIL Chief Executive Officer Lars Kastrup stated that this order will strengthen the company's transport capacity in the Asian and Pacific island country markets and support the company's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The shipbuilding agreement was signed by PIL Chief Maritime Officer Abhishek Chawla and Huanghai Shipbuilding representative Zhang Junde.

This order represents a new investment in the regional transport market under PIL's fleet renewal program. Unlike the company's previously ordered LNG dual-fuel large container ships, these 7 new vessels feature a methanol-ready design and a ship size more suited to regional feeder routes. The order was awarded to China's Huanghai Shipbuilding, adding feeder container ship construction projects to the shipyard.