Malaysia's state-owned shipowner MISC has issued a tender to shipbuilders to build four to eight LNG carriers.
The newbuildings will be utilized to serve parent Petronas’ future requirements for new LNG production projects such as Kanowit gas fields off Bintulu.
Industry sources say the tender is specifying the use of large amounts of Japanese-produced equipment for the LNG vessels.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding are said to be the strongest candidates for the newbuilding project.