South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has secured a contract to build a very large gas carrier (VLGC) for a Europe‑based shipowner, adding to the yard’s early‑year tally of gas carrier wins.
The deal is valued at 175.8 billion Korean won (about USD 121 million), according to disclosures by the shipbuilding group. Construction will be undertaken by subsidiary HD Hyundai Samho, with delivery scheduled in the first half of 2028, although the builder has not released technical specifications, including the vessel’s propulsion configuration.
With this latest order, HD KSOE has booked five newbuild contracts so far this year, representing an aggregate value of roughly USD 1.16 billion, or about 5 per cent of its USD 23.31‑billion annual order target. The 2026 intake to date comprises four LNG carriers and one LPG/ammonia‑capable gas carrier, underscoring sustained demand for high‑value, gas‑fuelled or gas‑carrying tonnage at Korean yards.
