Greece’s Evalend Shipping has been linked to a newbuilding deal for four LNG bunkering vessels commissioned at the South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Mipo. Multiple shipbroking outfits have named the Kriton Lendoudis-backed diversified owner behind the 18,000 cu m newbuilds booked at the yard in Ulsan for about $370m. HD Hyundai Mipo, which had also secured similar vessels from John Bassadone-led Hercules Tanker Management and a four-ship deal tied to a venture between Eastern Pacific Shipping and MSC, is set to deliver the latest units through the second half of 2028. Shipbuilding databases list Evalend with more than 30 newbuilding projects, the majority of which are energy carrier vessels set to join the fleet of over 50 ships, with more than half currently being bulk carriers. If confirmed, the deal would mark the Athens-based company’s entry into the growing LNG bunkering segment, as the number of LNG-powered ships is expected to double by the end of the decade from more than 600 at the end of 2024, according to the latest DNV data.