PIL receives first ‘O-class’ LNG dual-fuel container ship
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has taken delivery of the Kota Oasis, the first 8,200 TEU membrane-type LNG dual-fuel container ship in its fleet.
The Kota Oasis is the lead ship in a series of four vessels, known as the ‘O-class’, which have been developed in collaboration with the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) and New Yangzi Shipbuilding.
The vessel was delivered earlier this week at New Yangzi Shipbuilding, with classification and certification services provided by Lloyd’s Register (LR).
Last month, PIL conducted the naming ceremony of the new vessel at the Yangzijiang Shipbuilding yard in China.
PIL CEO Lars Kastrup said at the naming ceremony: “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.”
The ship measures 260m in length and is designed for both regional feeder routes and deep-sea operations.
It incorporates GTT MARK III membrane tank technology, representing a significant partnership between a private Chinese shipyard and GTT.
The vessel is also designed to be ammonia-ready, with fuel tanks certified to LR’s Ammonia-Ready class notation, allowing for future conversion to ammonia fuel.
Its dual-fuel propulsion system, equipped with a Wartsila LNG supply system, is engineered to reduce carbon emissions by 20%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 85%, and sulphur oxides (SOx) by 99%.
Additionally, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) of the vessel meets Tier III standards.
The ship’s Win-GD’s XDF main engine integrates an intelligent control by exhaust recycling system to minimise methane slip, while the generators are fitted with selective catalytic reduction systems to comply with IMO Tier III NOx regulations.
The Kota Oasis is PIL’s fifth LNG-powered vessel, joining four 14,000 TEU LNG vessels that were delivered in the previous year.
PIL has an additional 13 LNG dual-fuel vessels on order, set to be delivered in the coming years.
At the vessel’s naming ceremony, LR Greater China president Sau Weng Tang said: “The Kota Oasis represents a critical milestone in shipping’s decarbonisation journey. LR’s rigorous surveys and technical collaboration have ensured that this vessel meets the highest international standards for safety and environmental performance.”
In 2023, Wartsila secured a contract to supply LNG fuel gas supply systems (FGSS), propulsion control systems (PCS), and alarm monitoring and control systems (MCS) for four new LNG dual-fuel container ships.
