Taiwanese operator Wan Hai Lines, on behalf of Wan Hai Lines (Singapore) Pte Ltd, on Thursday (24 April) announced it has placed an order for four more methanol-ready container vessels from two South Korean shipbuilding companies. 

According to the company’s stock exchange filings, HD Hyundai Samho, part of HD Hyundai Group, and Samsung Heavy Industries will each build two 16,000 TEU capacity container vessels. 

The newbuilding deals amount to a combined value of up to USD 816 million with Wan Hai Lines spending between USD 186.5 million and USD 204 million per unit for the boxships at HD Hyundai, and between USD 187.6 million to USD 204 million for the ones at SHI.

Last year, Wan Hai Lines placed an order with the same South Korean shipbuilders to construct four methanol-fuelled vessels each of the same capacity as the latest order. 

Related: Wan Hai Lines orders eight methanol methanol dual-fuel boxships

Photo credit: Wan Hai Lines
Published: 29 April, 2025

Singapore-based container operator Pacific International Lines (PIL) on Friday (25 April) said it has named its first 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships, Kota Oasis. 

The vessel was named by Mrs Cindy Chang, wife of Mr. Peter Chang, PIL’s Deputy Chairman, at a ceremony held at the Yangzijiang Shipbuilding yard in China.

Kota Oasis is the first in a series of four 8,200 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels, designated as “O” Class, ordered by PIL from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. These newbuild vessels are part of PIL’s long-term plan to optimise its network deployment and renew its fleet for greater operational efficiency and increased sustainability.

Mr Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL, said, “We are delighted to welcome Kota Oasis to our fleet. This vessel represents another significant milestone in our journey towards sustainability and operational excellence.”

“As the first Asian container shipping line to invest in LNG dual-fuel ships in 2022, we made a bold commitment towards reducing our environmental footprint and achieving our net zero emissions target by 2050.”

“Together with the 14,000 TEU ‘E’ class vessels recently delivered, the ‘O’ Class vessels will play a crucial role in enhancing our global connectivity and meeting the evolving needs of our customers.”

Besides being LNG powered, PIL’s “O” Class vessels are capable of using greener bio-methane fuels and also equipped with Win-GD’s XDF engines with iCER (Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling) which significantly reduce methane emissions. 

In addition, PIL’s “O” Class vessels are also equipped with ammonia intermediate-ready fuel tanks.

Kota Oasis will be PIL’s fifth LNG-powered vessel to be delivered, joining PIL’s four 14,000 TEU LNG vessels delivered since last year. PIL has another 13 LNG dual-fuel vessels on order to be delivered over the next few years.

Related: Singapore-based PIL names fourth 14,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship in China

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 28 April, 2025

China's Jiangnan Shipyard on Tuesday (22 April) said it successfully secured a contract to construct a new LNG bunkering vessel for SIPG Energy Shanghai (SIPG Energy), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG). 

The order marked Jiangnan Shipyard’s return to the type C gas tank market after two years and has entered the LNG bunkering ship market.

The vessel will be equipped with three IMO type C LNG cargo tanks with a total capacity of 20,000 cubic metres. 

It will be equipped with full-revolving electric propulsion system, bow thruster, GCU, high-load compressor, smart ship and other advanced equipment, which can meet the requirements of NOx Tier III, achieve near-zero SOx emissions, and reduce CO2 greenhouse gases by about 20%. 

This ship will be used for ship-to-ship bunkering, ship-to-shore supply and reverse transfer, offers BOG treatment, operation volume trade measurement and calorific value analysis of LNG receiving ships of various types, and can provide inerting, cold tank and gas test services for LNG-powered ships.

According to the construction plan, Jiangnan Shipyard is scheduled to deliver the vessel to SIPG Energy in the first half of 2027.

SIPG Energy's fleet includes the LNG bunkering vessel Hai Gang Wei Lai and green methanol bunkering vessel Hai Gang Zhi Yuan. 

“We believe that with the shipbuilding strength of Jiangnan Shipyard and the rich bunkering experience of SIPG Energy, the two parties will be able to work together to achieve a strong alliance and jointly build LNG bunkering vessels with advanced indicators and excellent performance, and help build green ports and green shipping corridors,” the shipyard said. 

Photo credit: Jiangnan Shipyard
Published: 23 April, 2025