South Korean shipbuilding major Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) is competing with the Chinese rival Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) for the construction of up to nine 22,000 TEU containerships, Asiasis reports.
The order for the record-breaking Ultra Large Containership Vessels (ULCV) has been linked to the French shipping giant CMA CGM and is said to be undergoing final negotiation stage.
As disclosed, the order would include six firm ships and three options.
The newbuildings would feature LNG dual fuel engines.
CMA CGM is yet to provide World Maritime News with a comment on the matter.
Once the order is made official, the new 22,000 TEU newbuilds would push the 21, 413 TEUOOCL Hong Kong from the throne as the largest containership by TEU capacity.
The order comes on the heels of a USD 600 million contract HHI inked with Vitol for up to eight gas tankers. The two firm 84,000 cbm LPG tankers are expected to be delivered in 2019, while Vitol has options for six more tankers.
World Maritime News Staff