Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL) on Tuesday (23 June) said it marked a significant milestone in its fleet renewal programme with the twin naming ceremony of its newest 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels, Kota Elok and Kota Elan, at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. 

Kota Elok was named by Ms Chan Wai Ching, Chief Corporate Officer of Temasek International, while Kota Elan was named by Ms Yan Zi, a former tennis Olympic bronze medallist and Grand Slam champion in doubles. Also in attendance were Mr Lars Kastrup, PIL’s CEO; Mr Eng Aik Meng, PIL’s Board Director; Mr Chen Jianliang, Chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group; and Mr Li Wucheng, Director of Shandong Port Group Container Operations Centre.

Built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd, the two vessels are the first in a series of 13 new 13,000 TEU ships designed to elevate PIL’s operational capabilities. They form a key part of the company’s broader fleet renewal strategy, aimed at modernising its vessels, increasing competitiveness and growing capacity while enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

Kota Elok and Kota Elan will be deployed on PIL’s service connecting Asia and South America, a key trade corridor experiencing strong and sustained growth. Their introduction enables PIL to better support increasing cargo demand while facilitating smoother and more efficient trade flows between the two regions, and improves PIL’s operating efficiencies across the network.

Both ships are equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as low-sulphur fuel oil, allowing for meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Mr Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL, said: “The naming of Kota Elok and Kota Elan highlights the acceleration in PIL’s journey to modernise our fleet and strengthen our position in key trade lanes. These vessels will enable us to meet growing trade demand, expand capacity and deliver greater efficiency for our customers.”

“At the same time, they reflect our continued commitment to sustainability. By investing in LNG dual-fuel technology and advanced vessel designs, we are taking meaningful steps towards reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our net zero ambitions.”

The vessels incorporate a suite of advanced technological and energy-saving features, including an optimised hull form to improve hydrodynamic performance, energy-efficient systems and premium hull coatings that reduce fuel consumption. Both vessels are also equipped with digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, to enhance operational performance and enable greater automation onboard.

Kota Elok further features a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 24 June, 2026

Nordic biomethane company St1 Biokraft on Monday (22 June) said it is supplying liquefied biogas (bio-LNG) to Destination Gotland’s ferry operations during the summer and Almedalen Week 2026. 

This is the first time St1 Biokraft has supplied Destination Gotland, and the first time the company can supply a share of Swedish-produced biogas to shipping and to Destination Gotland.

Through the delivery, St1 Biokraft is beginning a collaboration with Destination Gotland and taking an important step in supplying Swedish-produced liquefied biogas to shipping. The delivery corresponds to renewable fuel for around 30 one-way crossings between Visby and Nynäshamn, of which a share is Swedish-produced biogas. The Swedish-produced part corresponds to around 10 crossings.

“We are pleased to begin this new collaboration with Destination Gotland, and it is particularly positive that part of the volume is Swedish-produced. This is a milestone for us, as it is the first time we can supply biogas to shipping in the Baltic Sea. Swedish production capacity is still being built up, but our ambition is to increase our own capacity so that, in future, we can supply only Swedish gas to this type of customer,” said Sohrab Moshiri, Head of Sales, St1 Biokraft.

“We are continuously working to reduce emissions from our operations, and we are very pleased to have purchased large volumes of BioLNG ahead of Almedalen Week and the summer season. It is especially positive that a large share of the order is Swedish-produced, thereby contributing to a local supply for our energy needs,” said Adam Jacobsson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Destination Gotland.

The delivery is being carried out in cooperation with Avenir, which is responsible for bunkering the vessels in the port of Visby. Bio-LNG is produced from organic residual materials from society and can be used as a renewable alternative in areas such as heavy transport, industry and shipping.

Photo credit: Destination Gotland
Published: 24 June, 2026

Switzerland’s energy producer Axpo on Monday (22 June) said the company completed its first ship-to-ship bio liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation in the port of Barcelona. 

Mitsui OSK Lines’s (MOL) vehicle carrier Lapis Ace received bio-LNG from Axpo’s bunkering vessel Green Pearl, marking another milestone in the development of alternative marine fuels infrastructure and services in Spain. 

Reinforcing its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to lower-emission fuels, this latest ship-to-ship bio-LNG bunkering operation demonstrates Axpo’s expanding capability to serve leading shipping operators across major ports in Spain. 

Axpo’s Head of Small-Scale LNG Daniele Corti, said: “The refuelling operation with MOL in Barcelona represents another key moment for LNG adoption in Spain. We’re not only developing infrastructure. We’re proving that alternative marine fuels can be operationally reliable and cost-effective. 

“As demand for LNG and bio-LNG continues to increase, Axpo’s growing operations in Málaga, Algeciras and now Barcelona demonstrate that this is no longer a niche market. It is a critical stepping stone in the maritime industry’s transition to a lower-carbon future.”

Axpo has been selected to supply bio-LNG fuel to MOL across the Mediterranean, providing bunkering services at the Spanish ports of Málaga and Barcelona. The agreement expands Axpo’s role in lower-emission maritime transport and builds on its existing Western European supply partnership with MOL, which began in March 2025.

Axpo’s presence in Spanish ports has grown substantially over the past year. In April 2025, the company completed its first LNG delivery in Málaga, followed by successful operations in Algeciras and Sines (Portugal). 

These milestones were made possible by Axpo’s 7,500-cubic-metre small-scale LNG vessel Green Pearl, improving the speed, flexibility and efficiency of bunkering operations across the Mediterranean. Axpo currently also holds a licence to operate in the port of Valencia.

In Italy, Axpo conducted the country’s first ship-to-ship bio-LNG refuelling in December 2025. Shortly afterwards, in March 2026, the bunkering vessel Alisios LNG, chartered by Axpo, was launched at the port of Huelva in southwestern Spain. 

Axpo’s ten-year charter of the Green Pearl and ongoing expansion of its bio-LNG portfolio reflect the company’s belief that industry collaboration is essential to achieving global emissions targets. By partnering with leading shipping operators like MOL and MSC, Axpo is demonstrating how coordinated action can accelerate the maritime sector’s shift toward cleaner fuels.

Related: MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Photo credit: Daniele Corti
Published: 23 June, 2026