Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL) has ordered seven 1,400 TEU feeder vessels suitable for conversion to methanol propulsion.
The order was placed with Huanghai Shipbuilding in China, PIL said in an announcement today.
The vessels will strengthen PIL’s feeder capacity across its Intra-Asia and Pacific Islands networks, with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2030.
The 172 m-long vessels have been designed for regional markets, allowing them to serve smaller ports while connecting with major transhipment hubs.
They will feature energy-saving technologies, including pre-swirl vanes and propeller boss cap fins, to improve propulsion efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Several shipowners have ordered methanol- or alternative-fuel-ready vessels in recent years as they weigh up which alternative fuels are likely to gain wider adoption.
The approach allows owners to initially operate ships on conventional fuels while retaining the option to convert them to alternative-fuel propulsion at a later stage.
However, while a growing number of methanol-ready vessels have entered service, relatively few have subsequently been converted to methanol propulsion.
