Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., a major shipbuilder, said Monday that it has signed a deal to build a naval tanker for New Zealand.

The new tanker will replace a 30-year-old ship tasked with providing fuel, fresh water, disaster relief and other things to the navy. The new 12,000-ton tanker will be delivered by the end of 2019, Hyundai Heavy said.

The new tanker will also be ice-strengthened for Antarctic operations, according to the shipbuilder.

Hyundai Heavy did not unveil the value of the deal, however. (Yonhap)