Pacific International Lines has signed letters of intent for eight LNG dual-fuel neo-panamax container ships, with construction split between Chinese and South Korean yards, reports Singapore's Splash 247.

The Singapore carrier has chosen Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea to each build four 13,000 TEU vessels. Deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and 2029.

Ranked 12th globally by capacity, the company has been in talks with the yards since last year as it weighed its next round of fleet investments.

The eight ships are part of a wider newbuilding programme worth about US

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.5 billion, aimed at modernising the fleet and cutting emissions. The LNG dual-fuel vessels are intended for major east-west and regional routes, giving the carrier flexibility as environmental rules tighten.

The latest agreements add to an already busy orderbook. The company currently has 23 ships on order, including 12 LNG-powered units - five of 13,000 TEU and seven of 9,000 TEU - all contracted at Hudong-Zhonghua's Jiangnan Changxing facilities, according to Alphaliner.

Market sources said the neo-panamax series shows the carrier leaning into LNG as a transition fuel, pairing larger hulls with cleaner propulsion as it reshapes its fleet for the next decade.