According to shipbuilding sources and brokers, PIL signed a letter of intent with Hudong-Zhonghua to build five LNG dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of 9,000 teu.
One source said that the shipbuilding deal is expected to be signed “very soon”.
Hudong-Zhonghua is expected to deliver the vessels in 2027 and 2028-
The price for each vessel is said to be about $140 million or $900 million for the entire order.
In August, PIL ordered five LNG dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of 13,000 teu at Hudong-Zhonghua.
The neo panamax-sized vessels are expected to be delivered progressively from end-2026.
These vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and auxiliaries able to run on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil.
Hudong-Zhonghua said 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 latest order, PIL increased its fleet of LNG dual-fuel vessels to 13 ships.
PIL previously ordered four 14,000 teu and four 8,200 teu LNG dual-fuel container vessels.
The firm recently named its first two LNG-powered container vessels in a ceremony at China’s Jiangnan.
PIL named the first vessel Kota Eagle and the second Kota Emerald.
With a capacity of 14,000 teu, they are the largest vessels in PIL’s fleet and also the first to run on LNG.
The two vessels will be plying the route from the Far East to Latin America on PIL’s West Coast Central and South America Service 2 route.
These containerships are 335 meters long and 51 meters wide.
They feature GTT’s Mark III LNG containment system, an optimized hull form, and variable-frequency drive motors.
