SOUTH Korean liner Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC) has placed an order for two containerships at another Korean yard that would be its largest to date, reports Singapore's Splash 247.

Brokers report the intra-Asia specialist has booked 9,000-TEU newbuilds at HD Hyundai Samho costing US$115.3 million each.

The deal revealed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the holding entity overseeing the shipyards of South Korea's conglomerate HD Hyundai, will see the vessels delivered in January and March 2027.

KMTC is 17th on Alphaliner's liner rankings list and operates more than 60 boxships. Shipbuilding sources show a series of 2,556-TEU vessels last ordered by the company in 2019. The current largest ships in the KMTC fleet are in 6,650-TEU range.