France’s SNCM plans to place an order for eight new ro-pax ships.
The company said STX’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard in France will be on a shortlist of three, along with South Korean and Japanese builders.
A final decision will be taken in December after 15 shipbuilders submitted bids for the work.
SNCM is expecting the value of the order to be at between EUR 800m and EUR 850m ($1.03bn). with deliveries in 2015-2018.
SNCM asks these newbuildings to reduce sulphur and CO2 emissions.