Pacific International Lines (PIL) has taken another step in its fleet renewal programme by signing letters of intent (LOIs) for eight LNG dual-fuel neo-panamax container vessels, split between shipyards in China and South Korea.
According to shipbuilding and market sources, the Singapore-based liner operator has selected Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea to each construct four 13,000 teu ships. Deliveries are expected in 2028 and 2029.
Ranked 12th globally by container capacity, PIL has been in discussions with the yards since last year as it evaluated its next phase of fleet investments. The new vessels form part of a broader newbuilding programme estimated to be worth around $1.5bn, focused on modernising the fleet and reducing emissions.
The LNG dual-fuel neo-panamax ships are intended for deployment on major east–west and regional trade lanes, providing PIL with greater operational flexibility as environmental regulations tighten and fuel strategies continue to evolve.
The latest LOIs add to an already substantial orderbook. PIL currently has 23 container ships on order, including 12 LNG-powered vessels—five of 13,000 teu and seven of 9,000 teu—contracted at Hudong-Zhonghua’s Jiangnan Changxing shipyard, according to Alphaliner data.
With the addition of the neo-panamax series, market observers note that PIL is reinforcing its commitment to LNG as a transition fuel, combining larger and more fuel-efficient vessel designs with cleaner propulsion technologies as it reshapes its fleet for the coming decade.
