State-run South Korean utility Kogas has pre-qualified seven domestic shipowners to bid for six LNG carrier newbuildings.

Industry sources say four existing LNG shipowners — SK Shipping, Hyundai LNG Shipping, Hahn & Co-controlled Hanjin Shipping and Korea Line Corp (KLC) — have been cleared to bid on two or more of the vessels in what is being referred to as “Group A”.

A