THE LION'S SHARE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1930, Page 9

THE LION'S SHARE

WORLD'S SHIPBUILDING

BRITAIN HOLDING HER OWN

British Official Wireless.

KUGBY, sth February.

A comprehensive survey of the world's shipbuilding is contained in the annual summary of "Lloyd's Register." The gross tonnage of seagoing steel and iron steamships and motorships in all countries last June was nearly 63,000,000 tons, an increase of over 20,000,000 tons, or nearly 5C per cent, on the figure in June, 1914.

Last year tonnage of over 1,500,000 was launched in Great Britain and Ireland alone. This was nearly 300,----000 tons more than the combined output of the rest of the world, and 54.5 per cent, of the total, as compared with 55.6 per cent, in each of the two previous years. At the end of last year the tonnage under construction throughout the world was 423,000 tons more than in December, 1928, and of this increase the respective shares of Great Britain and Ireland and of the rest of the world wore 317,000 and 176,000 tons.

As compared with Groat Britain and Ireland's production of over 1,500,000 tona last year, the outputs of the other principal shipbuilding countries ■were: Germany, 249,000 ;tons; Holland, 156,000; Japan, 164,000; United States, 126,000; Denmark, 111,000; and Sweden, 107,000. A proportion of over 17 per cent, of Britain's total output was for owners living abroad. \ This figure shows an increase on that of thi previous year.

The general conclusion drawn from the figures is that the shipbuilding outlook is brighter than in recent years. The work just begun has not only reached a high level, but more than replaces the tonnage launched. Nevertheless the capacity of. British yards still largely exceeds the demand. This is due to the wholesale manner they were extended during the war and the severe restrictions of naval work since its end.