Newbuilding
Singapore-based PIL takes delivery of third 14K TEU LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Ebony”
“Kota Ebony” is third of four 14,000 TEU vessels designed and constructed by Jiangnan Shipyard after “Kota Eagle” and “Kota Emerald”; they are the largest in PIL’s fleet and the first to run on LNG bunker fuel.
Singapore-based container operator Pacific International Lines (PIL) on Friday (21 February) said it has received delivery of its third 14,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel.
The vessel was named Kota Ebony at a ceremony held at the shipyard in Shanghai by Mrs Giselle Kastrup, the wife of Mr Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL.
“Kota Ebony is the third of four 14,000 TEU vessels designed and constructed by Jiangnan Shipyard, one of China’s leading shipbuilders. They are the largest in PIL’s fleet and the first to run on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG),” the company said in a social media post.
Mr Lars Kastrup, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kota Ebony, our third 14K vessel to our fleet. These efficient dual-fuel vessels enable us to further bolster our services and support the growing trade between China and Latin America.”
“The first two sister ships, Kota Eagle and Kota Emerald, were delivered in October and December last year, and are already operating successfully on our Latin America service network. We are now proud to add Kota Ebony to reinforce the East Coast Latin America service.”
“Our fourth 14K TEU vessel is expected in the coming months, and will be joined by another 14 dual-fuel, biomethane-capable vessels which will be delivered progressively over 2025 and the subsequent years.”
“This significant investment represents PIL’s ongoing efforts at fleet renewal as well as our unwavering commitment to making shipping more environmentally sustainable as we chart our way to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”
The 14K TEU series of vessels feature an optimised hull form and high reefer capacities ideal for the Latin American trade. In addition, they also incorporate various features such as high-performance anti-fouling coating to reduce fuel consumption, exhaust gas recirculation systems to cut-down on main engine methane emissions and improved data connectivity to improve safety as well as operations efficiency.
PIL has ordered a total of 18 newbuild vessels since 2022. In addition to the four 14,000 TEU vessels, PIL has another four 8,000 TEU, five 13,000 TEU, and five 9,000 TEU vessels on order.
Related: Singapore-based PIL names two LNG dual-fuel container vessels in China
Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 24 February, 2025
LNG Bunkering
GNV orders four new LNG-fuelled RoPax vessels from Guangzhou Shipyard
GNC, part of MSC Group, says work will begin in 2026, with the first ship delivered within the first months of 2028 and the following ones every six months.
Events
China: Over 20 speakers confirmed for Green ShipTech Innovation Asia Summit 2025
Karim Fahssis, Decarbonization China Head of Maersk, Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of MMMCZCS, Tan Wee Meng, Chief Projects Officer of GCMD, are some of the key speakers to be featured at the event.
Alternative Fuels
DNV: Methanol and LNG go ‘head-to-head’ in April alternative-fueled vessel orders
Methanol and LNG saw similar numbers of new vessel orders in April, with 24 and 20 respectively out of 49; two new orders for hydrogen-fuelled vessels in the cruise segment were placed.
Latest figures from classification society DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform saw a total of 49 new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels were placed in April 2025.
This represents a 5% increase compared to last year, despite the backdrop of a decline in overall newbuild orders.
Methanol and LNG saw similar numbers of new vessel orders in April, with 24 and 20 respectively. Methanol orders were concentrated in the container (14) and RoPax (9) segments, with one additional order in the tanker segment. Orders for LNG fuelled vessels were distributed across the container (16), cruise (2), and RoPax (2) segments.
The concentration of orders in the container segment reflects ongoing activity from cargo operators, while the presence of orders across RoPax, cruise, and other segments points to a more diverse uptake of alternative fuels compared to previous months.
Additionally, there were two new orders for hydrogen-fuelled vessels in the cruise segment, marking the first orders since June 2024.
Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV Maritime, said: “Methanol and LNG going head-to-head this month reflects how fuel choices are evolving. Methanol has rebounded quickly after a quieter start to the year, while LNG remains strong with uptake diversifying beyond the container segment.
“Seeing LNG and methanol fuelled vessels ordered at similar levels shows how owners are weighing flexibility, fuel availability, and segment-specific needs when ordering.”
“Continued strength in the alternative-fuelled vessel market stands out, even amid a broader slowdown in newbuild activity.”
Photo credit: DNV
Published: 6 May, 2025
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