Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea appears to be a strong candidate to win a newbuilding LNG carrier for Australia Ichthys LNG project.
Sources said that the tender for newbuilding LNG carriers has been recently closed.
Five shipowner groups - ▲MOL-NYK, ▲K Line, ▲MISC, ▲SK Shipping-Marubeni and ▲Teekay - have reportedly been short-listed to build and charter out three to four of LNG-carrier newbuildings for the Ichthys LNG project.
Ichthys partners Inpex of Japan and France’s Total are seeking a 145,000-cbm to 150,000-cbm LNG carrier, a 150,000-cbm to 180,000-cbm ship and a 180,000-cbm ship.
Two of shipowner/consortiums are expected to win the contract, while Samsung Heavy Industries, besides Japanese shipbuilder, is said highly possibly to ink an order.
All of vessels are required for delivery in late 2016 or early in 2017.