South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has released two of its much-chased, remaining open LNG carrier delivery slots at record new prices.
DSME said on Monday that an “Oceanian” company has ordered a KRW 354.2bn ($252m) LNG carrier, which is due for delivery by the end of 2026.
The yard did not name the owner involved or detail the size of the vessel. Previously, Angelicoussis Group company Maran Gas Maritime and Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines have been linked to talks with DSME on LNG carrier berths.
Brokers later said Monday’s LNG newbuilding is for MOL. DSME declined to comment.
A day later DSME chief executive Park Doo-sun said Maran Gas had paid KRW 350.9 to order a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier for delivery in the second half of 2026.
Sources said the Greek shipowner has agreed a charter with Australia’s Woodside on an LNG carrier newbuilding.
DSME officials clarified that the yard has confirmed two LNG orders this week.
MOL’s order marks a new top price for a newbuilding in this sector.
On 21 October, DSME secured orders for two 200,000-cbm LNG carriers from US liquefaction company Venture Global LNG.
DSME priced the newbuildings, which are larger than traditionally sized 174,000-cbm ships, at $250m per ship.
The Venture Global orders at that time were labelled as the highest-priced LNG carrier orders. The US company, which already had three LNG carriers on order at DSME, was able to move in on this latest duo after the yard cancelled two slots previously reserved in July by Norway’s ADS Maritime Holding.
At the end of October, TradeWinds reported that several owners were jostling for up to four LNG carrier berths for 2026 delivery dates, which had unexpectedly become open after shipowners GasLog and Pan Ocean — which had been selected for charter business with trader Vitol — had not moved forward on planned business.
TradeWinds named loyal DSME customers Japanese shipowner MOL and Maran Gas as among those being offered the slots by the yard.
Prior to this, South Korean shipbuilders had been thought to be sold out on LNG carrier berths and have been holding back on marketing the limited slots they have available for 2027 delivery dates.
DSME, like its rival big shipbuilders in South Korea, has soared past its order target for 2022.
The yard has notched up a record 38 LNG carrier orders this year along with six container ships and one offshore plant.
The contracts have enabled the shipbuilder to achieve 117% of its $8.9bn target for the year.
