East Asia's three countries have clashed in newbuild LNG-carrier market.
South Korea, securing 80% of new order, faces challenges from China and Japan. 
China intends to take over France's Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), of which original technology of cargo containment systems for LNG carriers would enhance Chinese builder's competitiveness in LNG-carrier newbuilding market.
Japanese shipbuilders also began to focus on LNG carrier and chase after Korea.
Sources said that GTT planned to have a presentation for builders in China and South Korea, etc.
China seems to pay more interests on GTT than Korean builders, which recently have completed development of cargo containment system. Also, €1bn of disposal amount has not that much investment value for Korea.
Market player said, "Rongsheng Heavy Industries of China has an eye on GTT and they have secured a technical tie-up for a while. As cargo containment system is the most difficult part to develop in core facilities in LNG carriers, acquisition of GTT would give a big benefits."
The Korea Shipbuilders' Association said, "five-to-seven year technical gap on LNG carrier between Korea and China would definitely narrow down, if Chinese builder buys GTT."
About thirty newbuilding LNG carriers are estimated to be booked in a year by 2017.
Although Korea booked 40 LNG carriers of overall 45 vessels newly ordered this year, Korean major builders have paid over KRW 1trn ($8.62bn) of technical royalties for cargo containment system to GTT, which is about 5% of shipbuilding price.
For this reason, South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding have completed development of cargo containment.
China announced a 'National Shipping & National Shipbuilding' policy and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company contracted four newbuilding LNG carriers, valued at $220m per vessel, from Mitsui O.S.K of Japan. Rongsheng HI has been prepared for LNG-carrier market from the second half of 2009.