SHIPBUILDING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8340, 6 January 1916, Page 4

SHIPBUILDING.

INCREASE IN TONNAGE.

According to the annual report of < Lloyd's JJegistor of Shipping, despite the losses incurred by tne mercantile marine through the war, the tonnage of vessels classed in Lloyd's register book at the close of the year ended June 30, 1915, was 300,000 tons in excess of that at the corresponding date in, 1914. ' The report shows that of 10,542 vessels of a total tonnage of 24,174,877 tons, 5899- vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of. 13,299,948 tons, are British, leaving 4643 ships, of an aggregate tonnage of. 10,074,929. tons, for the rest of th© world. 1 Merchant shipbuilding in the United Kingdom has, necessarily fallen off owing to the great demands upon the resources of the country for the'production, of war vessels. Construction has been greatly delayed, and. in some cases entirely stopped—not only in the United King; dom, but in all the belligerent countries. This .has naturally given an. impetus to the industry ' elsewhere,', particularly in the United. States, in. Japan, in. Scandinavian, countries,, and in Holland. The increase is most.' marked' in America, whore there are at present under, construction and. on. order, for classification with, Lloyd's Register, the largest amount, of tonuago upon record for that country.. Among vessels built or building during the past 12: months under the special survey of Lloyd's aro two steamers* of the Monitor type, in which the side' plating is worked, in corrugated, form-. The principle of corrugation has also* been applied under .tests to secure additional strength, for water-tight bulkheads and steel, hatch covers. The tonnage classed during the year includes. 26 vessels, of 17.1,681 tons,: built upon. tho Isherwood system of longitudinal framing. Up., to date there have- beem built, or ar© mi course of; construction*,, to the society's.classification, over 300» of these vessels, totalling. 1,675,000 tons gross. The number of vessel* intended to carry petroleum in bulk during the year is 22 vessels, of 120",324 tons. Development has also taken place in geared turbines- and' ia Britishbuilt, Dioseli engines.. As a result of the war and the use' of frozen meat for the armies in the field, the demand for vessels fitted with refrigerating machinery lias been . abnormal; and every effort " has been made to coniplote the vessels under ' construction for this special trade, whilst some vessels originally constructed for carrying fruit are having their refrigerating appliances modified to enable thorn to carry meat, which required a greater degree of refrigeration. The report states tbat tho use of frozen meat by, the French and Italian armies will naturally remove, or at least diminish, the prejudice against • such food which existed in those coun-> trios, and it niay 'be assumed that after the war there will be such an expansion- ia. this branch of trade as will materially affect both tho production of. meat and its oversea carriage.