STX Bags Orders for Six Tankers
South Korea’s STX Offshore & Shipbuilding won contracts to build six tankers from Greece and local shippers, reports Korea JoongAng Daily. STX announced that Greek shipper OceanGold Tankers placed an order for four medium-range tankers of 50,000 DWT capacity. Two were order on an option contract, which gives the buyer a right to pay for the ship at a pre-determined price in case ship prices rise. The deal was worth $140 million in total. According to STX, the ships will be constructed in its Jinhae shipyard in Changwon, South Gyeongsan, and delivered by the first quarter of 2019. Two days ago, STX announced orders for two 11,200 DWT tankers - one an option contract - that move oil and chemical products from a local company, Woolim Shipping.
South Korea Okays Casinos on Cruise Ships
South Korea has given the go-ahead for cruise ships to operate onboard casinos for foreign guests, , reports the Korea Joongang Daily newspaper. South Korean cruise vessels voyaging overseas will be able to operate casinos on board – but casino admission will be only for foreign passengers from as early as next year. “The ministry is in no talks to push for admission of Koreans to [such] casinos,” said Han Dong-soo, an official at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, as quoted in comments to the Korea Herald newspaper. The ministry has been taking the lead on the casino cruises initiative. "We are currently seeking to support cruise operators to go for onboard casinos.
South Korean Okays Casinos in Cruise Ship
South Korea plans to enable its citizens and foreign tourists to wager on new cruise ship services that will serve ports around the country, reports the Korea Joongang Daily newspaper. Some major overseas cruise companies – such as Genting Hong Kong Ltd’s Star Cruises – operate shipboard casinos that only open once the vessel is in international waters. The plans also include allowing local residents to use casinos on cruise ships. The National Assembly passed the Cruise Act in January to open casinos on cruise ships carrying the Korean national flag for foreign passengers only, but now the government plans to submit a revision bill to allow local residents to use cruise ship casinos.
Korea to Get First Int’l Cruise Ships
According to a Dec. 13 report from Korea JoongAng Daily, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said it has approved the country’s first operation of international cruise ships, in a bid to strengthen the country’s foothold in the Northeast Asian cruise market. (Source: Korea JoongAng Daily)
