VESSEL REVIEW | Kota Elok & Kota Elan – LNG dual-fuel containerships for Pacific International Lines' Asia-South America routes

Pacific International Lines (PIL) has taken delivery of Kota Elok and Kota Elan, two LNG dual-fuel container ships built by China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for its Asia–South America service. The vessels are the first two in a planned series of 13 ships.

The Singapore-registered ships each offer a capacity exceeding 13,000 TEUs including space for up to 2,200 refrigerated containers.

The sisters each have an LOA of 335 metres (1,100 feet), a moulded beam of 51 metres (170 feet), a moulded depth of 27.2 metres (89.2 feet), a maximum draught of 16 metres (52 feet), a deadweight of 152,645, and a gross tonnage of over 130,769. The propulsion arrangement can run on either LNG or low-sulphur fuel oil.

The newbuilds will complement PIL’s earlier series of smaller containerships. In particular, the company has selected the larger pair for a trade corridor where it said cargo demand continues to grow strongly and consistently.

Full range of emissions-reducing features

The LNG fuel on each ship is stored on a type B tank with a total capacity of 12,000 cubic metres (2.6 million gallons) also developed by Hudong-Zhonghua (which is also installed on a smaller 9,000TEU ship also built by Hudong-Zhonghua for PIL). Fuel gas supply systems are also fitted. According to the yard, operating on gas mode will yield a range of 22,000 nautical miles,

Hudong-Zhonghua also described the design as incorporating an intelligent control by exhaust recycling (ICER) system, which can help reduce methane slip in gas mode as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

By cooling and recirculating the exhaust gas, the ICER system allows some of the methane in the exhaust gas to be re-combusted, thus further reducing the ship's emissions.

Each ship has an optimised hull form and premium hull coatings among the principal efficiency features fitted to both vessels. The hull optimisation is intended to improve hydrodynamic performance, while the coatings are intended to reduce fuel consumption during operation.

Kota Elok also carries a bow windshield. PIL said the structure is intended to improve aerodynamic performance and contribute to lower fuel consumption and emissions over long-haul voyages. There is also wind deflector arrangement developed by Hudong-Zhonghua among the ship’s energy-saving measures.

PIL had previously introduced a bow windshield on its 14,000TEU ship Kota Embun. For that vessel and her route, the company forecast a one per cent annual reduction in fuel consumption and corresponding emissions.

Also installed are variable-frequency drive motors to serve the larger pumps and the blowers used for ventilation. LED lighting is used throughout each ship as an additional energy-saving feature.

Both vessels incorporate AI and IoT capabilities. PIL said these technologies are intended to improve operational performance and allow greater automation on board.

Oonboard layouts emphasising safety and comfort

PIL said the accommodation and working environment were designed with seafarer well-being in mind in order to provide safe, modern and comfortable onboard conditions.

The newbuilds will be operated in conjunction with PIL’s earlier 14,000TEU ships Kota Eagle and Kota Emerald, which have the same length and beam as the Hudong-Zhonghua-built ships despite the difference in container capacities.

PIL placed the original five-ship order for 13,000TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels with Hudong-Zhonghua in August 2024.

Eight additional ships were ordered in January 2026, divided equally between Hudong-Zhonghua and South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries with deliveries scheduled for the 2028-2029 timeframe.