South Korean builders Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have inked a preliminary deal to build up to eight LNG carriers for Greece's Maran Gas. The letter of intent for the deal includes an option for four additional carriers, according to a DSME spokesperson. The deal could be worth an estimated $1.6bn in total, according to industry sources quoted by Reuters. Details of the exact price and specifications of the ships are yet to be determined, the DSME spokesperson said.