South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries has scored an order for two LNG carriers, with Maran Gas Maritime linked to the order.

The Koje-based shipbuilder contract for the pair of LNG carriers is worth KRW 408bn ($368m).

SHI said the vessels are due for delivery by February 2024.

The company did not reveal the size of the newbuildings, and it did not disclose the identity of the company that booked the ships other than to say it was from Oceania.

However, shipbuilding sources linked the LNG carrier order to John Angelicoussis-controlled Maran Gas. They added that the pair of 174,000-cbm newbuildings will be part of the 17 LNG carriers that will serve the Total-led Mozambique LNG project.

The sources believe Maran placed the order by exercising options that the company locked in at SHI in early this month when it signed up for a single LNG carrier newbuilding there. That vessel is due for delivery in July 2023.

One option on deck

After signing up for the latest two ships, Maran still holds an option of one more LNG carrier newbuilding at the shipyard group.

Maran Gas did not reply to emails seeking comment on reports of the new order.

The Greek company is one of four shipowners that have been working with the Total-led Mozambique LNG project. The other three are Japanese shipping giants NYK Line, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and K Line.

NYK has a plan to build four ships at SHI, while MOL and K Line will construct four apiece at rival Hyundai Heavy Industries.

With the latest two newbuildings, SHI said it has signed orders for a total of 15 LNG carriers this year. The shipyard has 33 LNG carrier newbuildings on its orderbook.

SHI said it has bagged $4.8bn-worth of orders, achieving 57% of this year's $8.4bn target.

This story has been amended to reflect that the newbuildings are worth $368m and are due for February 2024 delivery.