Rumours have been reignited that the European Union will scupper the long-planned $1.8bn merger between South Korean shipyard giants Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings (HHIH).

South Korean shipbuilding players said the European Commission had asked HHIH to present remedial proposals that could mitigate concerns the commission had about the planned merger by 7 December.