Seoul: German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd is reportedly contemplating a significant order with South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean Co. for a new fleet of container ships valued at over 1.7 trillion won (approximately US$1.2 billion).
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hapag-Lloyd is considering commissioning six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel container carriers from Hanwha Ocean, as reported by global shipping news source TradeWinds. This consideration follows a letter of intent reportedly signed in 2021 between the German firm and the Korean shipbuilder, then operating under the name Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. (DSME), for the construction of a similar set of container ships.
Industry insiders anticipate that Hapag-Lloyd and Hanwha Ocean may finalize the deal later this month. However, Hanwha Ocean has stated that no definitive decisions have been made regarding the potential agreement. Hanwha Ocean is known as the shipbuilding arm of Hanwha Group, a major South Korean conglomerate with interests ranging from chemicals to aerospace.