South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has signed a letter of intent for 10 LNG-fuelled VLCC newbuildings worth KRW 1.1trn ($1bn).

The deal prices the tanker newbuildings at about $100m each, which would indicate a $15m to $16m premium for a dual-fuelled vessel.

DSME said on Monday that it had inked the LOI for the 300,000-dwt ships but added that the contract is expected to be concluded in the first quarter of next year.