Pacific International Lines’ (PIL) container ship Kota Ocean has successfully executed simultaneous cargo operations and a 4,300-cubic-meter LNG bunkering stem at Shanghai’s Mingdong Terminal. Supported by regional maritime authorities and SIPG Energy, the breakthrough represents both PIL’s first LNG bunkering at the port and the terminal’s first-ever cryogenic refueling operation, validating an efficient framework for dual-fuel vessel operations without expanding transit timelines.
Shanghai, China | May 26, 2026 – Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd (PIL) has completed a dual-milestone technical operation at the Port of Shanghai’s Mingdong Terminal, located within the Waigaoqiao Port district. The line’s 8,200-TEU container vessel, Kota Ocean, successfully took on approximately 4,300 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) while simultaneously handling commercial container cargo.
The deployment marks both PIL’s inaugural LNG bunkering operation within the Port of Shanghai and the first-ever cryogenic LNG refueling service conducted at the Mingdong Terminal facility.
Technical Coordination: Overcoming the “Golden Week” Peak
Executing simultaneous operations (SIMOPS), where a vessel transfers highly volatile cryogenic fuel while heavy overhead container cranes load and discharge cargo, requires rigorous safety protocols and multi-agency coordination. The complexity of the Kota Ocean stem was further compounded by its timing, taking place over China’s highly congested Labour Day “Golden Week” holiday period.
To maintain the vessel’s strict liner schedule without interrupting terminal productivity, PIL’s regional Shanghai team established a multi-tiered operational framework:
- Regulatory Supervision: Close operational alignments were managed alongside the Pudong and Wusong Maritime Safety Administrations (MSAs) to establish strict safety exclusion zones around the vessel’s fuel manifold.
- The Marine Infrastructure Loop: Fuel delivery was executed via a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer by SIPG Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shanghai International Port Group, which deployed its dedicated bunker tonnage alongside the container ship.
- Thermal Management: Engineering crews managed the thermal and pressure balances between the bunker barge and the Kota Ocean’s membrane-type containment systems, ensuring steady gas flow without triggering localized boil-off gas (BOG) venting.
The “O-Class” Architecture and Methane Mitigation
The Kota Ocean is part of PIL’s highly specialized “O-Class” series, a four-ship asset block that includes sister vessels Kota Oasis, Kota Odyssey, and Kota Orkid. These vessels are engineered specifically to balance immediate environmental compliance with long-term fuel optionality.
Structural and Technical Specifications: PIL “O-Class”
| Architectural Component | Engine & Fuel Specification | Environmental Compliance Impact |
| Main Propulsion | WinGD X-DF Dual-Fuel Engine | Utilizes iCER (Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling) to drastically reduce methane slip. |
| Containment Technology | GTT MARK III Membrane Tank | High-density cryogenic storage designed for minimal boil-off rates. |
| Future-Proofing | Ammonia Intermediate-Ready | Fuel tank structures are certified with class notations for ammonia fuel conversion. |
| Immediate Emissions Reduction | LNG Operational Profile | Cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, NOx by 85%, and virtually eliminates SOx and particulates. |
Commercial and Strategic Scaling for PIL
PIL, which ranks among the top 12 container shipping lines globally and stands as Southeast Asia’s largest home-grown carrier, has tied the Kota Ocean operation directly to its broader fleet modernization strategy. The carrier currently operates eight active LNG dual-fuel vessels but has an aggressive orderbook slated to drop into its network over the coming years, including five 13,000-TEU and seven 9,000-TEU dual-fuel newbuilds.
The successful validation of SIMOPS bunkering in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao district provides PIL with crucial operational flexibility. By proving that its fleet can take on alternative fuels without extending port turn-around times or delaying cargo operations, the line is protecting its bottom-line efficiency. This infrastructural reliability is essential as PIL works toward its broader corporate target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, navigating shifting regional alternative fuel supply chains with asset-level optionality.
About Pacific International Lines (PIL)
Established in Singapore in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is a premier global container carrier serving customers across more than 500 locations in 90 countries. With a core fleet of approximately 100 vessels, PIL maintains a commanding trade presence throughout Asia, China, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands.
The carrier provides end-to-end multi-modal logistics, container manufacturing, and specialized cargo solutions, including refrigerated, breakbulk, and project transport, backed by a future-focused, data-driven approach to global trade connectivity.
Source: Pacific International Lines