This file photo provided by Hanwha Ocean shows an LNG dual-fuel container ship built by the company. Yonhap

German shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd may turn to Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean for its next batch of container ship newbuildings worth over 1.7 trillion won ($1.2 billion), according to foreign news media.

Hapag-Llyod is considering placing an order to build six liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel container carriers with Hanwha Ocean, global shipping news source TradeWinds reported.

In 2021, the German firm reportedly signed a letter of intent with the Korean shipbuilder, then known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), for the construction of six container ships of the same kind.

Industry people expect the two companies to sign the deal later this month.

Hanwha Ocean said nothing has been decided in regard to the deal.

Hanwha Ocean is a shipbuilding affiliate of Korea's chemicals-to-aerospace conglomerate Hanwha Group. (Yonhap)