HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has signed its second midsize gas carrier (MGC) newbuilding contract in two weeks.
The South Korean group announced that it has struck a deal with an Asia-based company for two LPG carriers worth KRW 197.3bn ($148m) or $74m per ship.
It did not disclose the buyer’s identity or the size of the vessels but said subsidiary HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard will construct them for delivery by May 2027.
Based on the price, gas brokers believe the newbuildings will be conventional 45,000-cbm LPG carriers.
They named UK shipowner Purus Marine as the company behind the order. If that is correct, the deal will bring the number of MGCs that Purus has on order at HD HMD to six.
Its four earlier ships were ordered last year at a reported $69m each.
HD HMD is scheduled to deliver two vessels in 2025 and two in 2026.
According to Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network, Purus has fixed out two of the newbuildings to Koch Fertilizer. The rate and charter period have yet to emerge.
Purus is the second company to have ordered MGCs at HD HMD this month.
Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Co ordered two 45,000-cbm ships to be delivered by June 2026, marking its debut in the MGC business. It was reported to be paying $79.5m each.
Brokers suggested that the Middle East owner has paid a premium price because the vessels are dual-fuel, while Purus’ newbuildings are conventionally powered.
HD Korea Shipbuilding is the holding company for HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and HD HMD.
The group has now achieved $16.71bn worth of orders for 148 newbuildings this year — exceeding its annual target of $13.5bn.
