Greek shipowner Dynagas is being named as the shipowner behind a KRW 971.4bn ($784m) order for three large-sized LNG carrier newbuildings announced on Tuesday by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co (KSOE).

The sub-holding company for Hyundai Group shipyards said Hyundai Heavy Industries will build the 200,000-cbm vessels.

But it only referred to the contracting party as “an Oceanic shipper”.

Newbuilding sources said Dynagas has been lining up its next tranche of 200,000-cbm ships.

The announcement from KSOE prices the vessels at $261.3m each. The strong price is partly explained by the ships’ large capacities.

The three vessels are due for delivery dates in the first half of 2026.

TradeWinds has contacted Dynagas for confirmation and comment on the orders.

KSOE, which is the sub-holding company of newly named HD Hyundai, said these are its first LNG carrier orders for 2023.

Newbuilding brokers said HHI may have been able to free up some delivery slots in the first half of 2026 after the nine berths it is holding for the Mozambique LNG project were pushed into 2027 and 2028, and the project partners’ deadline for a decision on those newbuildings was extended.

In September last year, TradeWinds reported that Dynagas was in talks with China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) for up to four LNG carrier newbuilding berths as slots evaporated at South Korean yards and QatarEnergy progressed its huge ship acquisition programme.

But these planned orders at DSIC do not appear to have moved forward and the yard has since stocked up on LNG orders for China Merchants Energy.

Dynagas has been a pioneer of the 200,000-cbm LNG carrier size range, which is larger than what has become the standard 174,000 cbm to 180,000 cbm for conventional vessels.

The company has also been a regular at HHI on these ships.

If confirmed, these latest orders will bring Dynagas’ tally at the shipyard to 12 LNG carriers.

The ships, two of which have been delivered, were specially designed for long-haul LNG trades from the US.

Another pair is due for handover this year, with two more to follow in 2024 and the remaining three in 2025.

The first nine vessels are all fixed on charters to US LNG producer Cheniere Energy.