SHIPPING WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1932, Page 14

SHIPPING WORLD

OUTLOOK NOT BRIGHT

LLOYD'S REVIEW

■The outlook in the shipping world is far from bright, according to the recentlyissued annual report for 1930-31 o£ "Lloyd's Register of Shipping." Although the total tonnage of ships built and classed during the year was above the average, mainly due to the fact that a large number of oil tankers which had been on order for. the past two years were completed, the. tonnage of projected vessels has fallen off considerably. The tonnage of vessels laid up has been more than doubled. The decline in activities is put down to the fact fhat the shipping industry is passing through the most severe depression in memory. '

During the twelve months ended 30th June, 1931, .the committee of the register classified 557 vessels of 1,758,610 gross tons, as compared with 637 vessels amounting to' 1,807,816 tons during the preceding year. Plans for 240 vessels of 564,280 tons were approved, of which 44 per cent, were intended for bulk oil carrying. Of the proposed tonnage 40.21 per cent, will be built, in Great Britain and Ireland, and 59.79 per cent, overseas. It is stated that this is the first year in which the projected tonnage construction in the United Kingdom has fallen below 55 per cent, of the total. The proposed tonnage has fallen from 2,081,610 tons in 1930 to 564,280 this year. The: record of 500,000' tons was established in 1912. However, a more hopeful sign is found in the fact that the tonnage of.merchant vessels, holding the classification of "Lloyd's Register" afloat at the end of - June last year amounted to 33,541,879 tons—an increase of more than 1,000,000 tbns, over Juiie, 1930. The building of tanker tonnage has beeu a marked feature of the shipbuilding figures, having iucreased by 1,022,237. tons since'l93o. The increase in the number of steamers, either originally fitted for oil-burning or subsequently converted has continued without interruption. During the year 39 per cent, dfjth'e 'steamers built wore fitted for oil burning. Another record has been established invthe.construction of motor vessels. Sixty-nine, per cent, of the ships built during <th,ef past (year were motor, ships. Nor.way continues, to hold the lead in'motor ■ship t tonnage- construction. She built 52 vessels >of ■■ 389,901 tons while Great Britain ?and. Ireland'built 59 ivessels of 273,287 tons.- The gross tonnage of motor vessels has: increased by./1,335,090 tons since 1930. A;Ainai;ked;,feature of shipbuilding has been the.extension,in the use of electricity Mr.propelling purposes, and also for driving engine-room and deck machinery. The most notable electric propulsion vessels recently ■completed are the Strathnaver. iwhieh recently visited Australia; Strathaird,.a: sister-ship;.ithe Monarch of Bermuda, and'the Eangatira. Large refrigeration -.installations have -been carried outl Among the vessels fitted-.are the Orari, Opawa, and Otaio,all of which will be engaged, in the Australian trade. v The second year of the society's participation m the inspection of/civil aircraft has been marked by: a steady increase in the amount of work undertaken. During the,twelve months, endedi:June last the number of aircraft, on the register for the P? riL ose,.° £ inspection under the authority or the Air Ministry has been doubled.