South Korea's Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has indicated to yards that it wants to ink contracts on its planned $2.5bn spend on 20 containership newbuildings in the first half of this year.
Yard officials say HMM is asking for prices on 12 eco-vessels of around 23,000 teu and eight of 14,000 teu by the end of this month.
The boxship owner has asked four shipbuilders — DSME, Hanjin Heavy Industries, building at its Subic facility, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries — to offer in on the vessels.
