South Korea’s Sinokor Merchant Marine is being linked to a series of MR product tanker newbuildings ordered at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD).

Shipbuilding sources said the low-profile owner is behind a $250m newbuilding contract the Ulsan-based shipyard disclosed last month.

The order is for four firm 50,000-dwt vessels plus two options.

A shipbuilding source said the ships will have an IMO type 2 chemical rating, with multiple tanks and possibly phenolic-epoxy coatings.