Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) has disclosed that two shipping companies have signed up five newbuildings in total, with a combined value of KRW 511bn ($430m).
The identity of the companies behind the newbuilding contracts were not disclosed, other than to say that they are from Asia.
The contracts were for three LNG-fuelled 7,900-teu container ships and two 50,000-dwt product tankers.
KSOE said the post-panamax container ships will be delivered from the first half of 2024 while the MR vessels will be handed over in the second half of next year.
Shipbuilding sources linked the order of the three 7,900-teu container ship newbuildings to Singapore's Eastern Pacific Shipping.
On Monday, TradeWinds reported that the Idan Ofer-controlled shipping company has splashed out close to $700m to order up to six dual-fuelled mid-size container ships. The deal was for three firm vessels plus options for an additional three ships.
Eastern Pacific has booked the three firm newbuildings on the back of eight year charters from Israeli liner operator Zim. They will be constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries.
KSOE said it has so far secured 24 newbuildings worth about $2.9bn so far this year. The order volume is about 17% of its target of $17.4bn for 2022.
KSOE has aborted the plan to takeover Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, following the European Commission's veto of the deal.
Local press reported that the Hyundai subsidiary has submitted a withdrawal letter to South Korea's Fair Trade Commission, formally ending the takeover bid.
