Debt-ridden Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) may be forced to terminate newbuilding orders if a two-month-old labour strike does not end soon.

The dispute, which has so far cost the yard more than KRW600bn ($458m), has already delayed the delivery of 12 vessels, the yard told a local news agency.

The construction schedule for up to 30% of its newbuildings could be affected by the end of August, DSME added.