Daewoo shipbuilder signs deal to build four LNG carriers

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) on Thursday announced that it has signed deals worth $800 million to build four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, marking the company’s first order of 2015.

In October, the state-run Korea Gas Corporation issued orders for six LNG carriers to bring in shale gas from the United States. Four of the orders to operate the ships went to the two local shippers - Korea Line Corporation and Hyundai LNG Shipping. The order for the two remaining carriers went to Samsung Heavy Industries, which will deliver the LNG Vessels to SK Shipping.

DSME, the country’s second-largest shipbuilder, will deliver the LNG carriers to two shippers by May 2017 after they are completed at its Okpo dockyard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang. The LNG carriers will be 295.5 meters (983 feet) long and 46.4 meters wide.