Daewoo, Hyundai plan separate $976 mln UK navy tenders

SEOUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd (009540.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's top shipbuilder, and its rival Daewoo Shipbuilding (042660.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Tuesday they are separately planning to tender for a 500-million-pound ($976.2 million) ship order from Britain's Royal Navy.

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co Ltd, the world's No. 3 shipbuilder, has formed a consortium with Britain's BAE Systems (BAES.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to tender for an order of six multipurpose supply vessels, a Daewoo spokesman said.

"We made up a consortium with BAE and are in an examination of qualifications, a step before a full-scale tender," he told Reuters by telephone.

He said the total price of the deal was 800 million pounds but the value of ships excluding weapons was about 500 million pounds.

Hyundai said it also plans to tender for the order.

"We are participating in the tender for six navy ships in a consortium," said the spokesman, declining to name its partners.

The British Navy plans to sign a final deal for the vessels in April next year and the winner will deliver the ships from 2012, the Daewoo spokesman said. ($1=.5122 Pound) (Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo; writing by Louise Heavens; editing by Kim Coghill)