South Korean liner operator Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC) ended a seven-year absence from the shipbuilding market by booking three feeder containerships at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD).
Industry sources said KMTC is the unnamed Asian company that Ulsan-based HMD referred to in a recently announced order.
A source familiar with KMTC confirmed it had inked the 2,500-teu ships for $35.7m each with delivery slated from the second half of 2020. It is not known if the deal includes optional vessels. KMTC declined to comment.
According to VesselsValue, KMTC last signed up for newbuildings in 2012. It took delivery of the Daesun Shipbuilding-constructed 1,048-teu Sunny Iris (built 2013) a year later.
KMTC may not be active in ordering new ships but the company has been renewing its operated fleet by chartering newbuildings.
For example, it has fixed half-a-dozen 1,800-teu Bangkokmaxes from Japanese tonnage provider Nissen Kaiun. KMTC was reported to have chartered the containerships for 10 years at about $12,000 per day. The 1,800-teu vessels are under construction at HMD and are due for delivery next year.
