New Vessel Deployed on South West Africa Service to Enhance Asia–West Africa Connectivity
Pacific International Lines (PIL) celebrated a significant milestone in its fleet modernization and sustainability drive with the official naming ceremony of the Kota Orkid at the Yangzijiang Shipbuilding yard. The vessel is the fourth in the company’s series of 8,200 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) LNG dual-fuel ‘O’ Class container ships.
Named by Lady Sponsor Mrs. Annie Yap, wife of PIL Board Director Mr. Yap Chee Keong, the Kota Orkid takes its inspiration from Singapore’s national flower. The name embodies the qualities of resilience, elegance, and progress, which PIL seeks to reflect in its heritage and forward-looking business vision.
Advancing Fleet Capacity and Green Technology
The Kota Orkid immediately joins its sister ‘O’ Class vessels—the Kota Oasis, Kota Ocean, and Kota Odyssey—on PIL’s South West Africa Service (SWS). This addition strengthens trade connectivity and enhances service capacity and flexibility between Asia and West Africa, a key international route for the company.
The delivery of the Kota Orkid marks the eighth LNG-powered vessel PIL has put into service to date. Since 2024, the company has also received four 14,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels. PIL has a substantial further investment in cleaner shipping, with twelve additional LNG dual-fuel vessels on order, including five 13,000 TEU and seven 9,000 TEU ships, all slated for delivery in the coming years.
Commitment to Sustainable and Efficient Shipping
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. S.S. Teo, Executive Chairman of PIL, stated that the naming of their eighth newbuild vessel in the past year represents a major step forward in their fleet expansion and renewal strategy. He emphasized that by growing their LNG-powered fleet, PIL is investing not only in capacity and technology but also in greener shipping, which will play a crucial role in enhancing service offerings for customers.
The new vessels are built with advanced engines designed to significantly reduce methane emissions. They also offer the flexibility to operate on bio-methane fuels. Furthermore, the ships’ hydrodynamic hull designs and specialized anti-fouling coatings contribute to superior fuel efficiency.
Mr. Lars Kastrup, CEO of PIL, reinforced the sustainability message, noting that the Kota Orkid demonstrates how PIL’s fleet is becoming “cleaner, smarter, and more efficient.” He concluded that embracing greener fuels, advanced technology, and digital systems ensures PIL remains resilient and future-focused to meet the evolving demands of global trade with agility and innovation.
อัพเดตข่าวสารและบทความที่น่าสนใจในอุตสาหกรรมโลจิสติกส์ก่อนใคร ผ่าน Line Official Account @Logistics Mananger เพียงเพิ่มเราเป็นเพื่อน @Logistics Manager หรือคลิกที่นี่
