Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co (KSOE) has kicked off the new year with orders for 10 newbuildings worth KRW 1.67trn ($1.39bn) — six large container ships, three feeder boxships and an LNG carrier.

The South Korean holding company for Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and unlisted Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries did not disclose the names of the companies that have placed the orders.

It said a Europe-based company had ordered six LNG-fuelled 15,000-teu container ships to be delivered from the first half of 2024. The price was not revealed.

Shipbuilding sources believe Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is behind the order.

In November, the liner giant was reported to have signed a letter of intent with HHI for the sextet. Brokers said the ships would each probably cost in the mid-to-high $170m range.

MSC is said to hold an option for six additional vessels at the yard.

KSOE said it had signed an order for three 1,800-teu boxships with a company in Oceania. It did not disclose the value of the deal, but said the vessels are set for delivery in the second half of 2023.

However, shipbuilding sources believe the trio was ordered by a European owner.

KSOE said the gas carrier was booked by an "Asian shipper". It is scheduled to deliver the 174,000-cbm vessel in the second half of 2024.

The group has set an order target of $17.4bn for 2022. That is 17% higher than last year's $14.9bn target.

It secured $22.8bn worth of orders in 2021, exceeding its annual target by about 53%.