While shipowners who are willing to order newbuildings are looking for LNG-propelled ones and shipyards are seen to prepare for the expansion of LNG-propulsion ship market, the shipowners and shipyards that firstly dominate the market are prospected to seize the leading position.
“Demand for Eco-Ship are growing in commercial ship market, which requires shipyards to have higher specifications in ship design. Also, reinforced environment regulation and possibility of a drop in gas prices will move forward the advance of LNG-propelled vessel,” said Park Moo-Hyun, an analyst at E*Trade Securities Korea.
He continued, “This entails that an investment in LNG Bunkering will be revitalized while LNG Bunkering investment is already very active in the US as the production of shale-gas has started.”  
Park noted that the Middle East shipowner UASC is planning to place an order for the 18,000 teu ultra large containerships, in the next place following Maersk Line, hoping to equip ME-GI engines on the vessel for the first time, saying “It seems UASC intends to predominate LNG-propelled vessel market.”
Meanwhile, He said, in Japanese shipbuilding industry as well, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding are in talks for a merger to fight against Korea in LNG-propelled vessel market, explaining that the reason behind this is that Japanese shipbuilding market has been facing a shortage in manpower for designing and a merger is believed to be the best way to overcome.