WORLD SHIPBUILDING

Evening Star, Issue 26041, 4 March 1947, Page 10

WORLD SHIPBUILDING

MORE THAN HALF IN BRITAIN The statistics issued by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping .concerning merchant vessels under construction at the end of September last show that in Great Britain and Ireland there was an increase of 109,935 tons m the work in hand as compared with the figures for the previous quarter. The total ,at that date of 1,874,878 tons was also greater by 378,635 toils th'an the tonnage which was . being huilt at the end of September, 1945, and has not been exceeded since June, 1922, when the total recorded was 1,919.504 tons. Tonnage on which work was suspended ..at ..the end of Septemuber amounted to 10,410 tons. Tonnage intended for registration abroad or for sale stood at 105,000 at the end of last March, 247,500 at the end of June, and at the • end of September was 387,000 or 20.6 per cent, of the tonnage now being built in Great Britain and Ireland. .

Merchant vessels under construction abroad at the end of September were shown as 1,694,281 tons, which was 181,899 tons more than that recorded at the end of June last. The leading countries abroad were: U.S.A., 354,283 tons; Sweden, 241,050 tons; British Dominions etc., 199,558 tons (including Canada, 145,648 tons); Holland, 166,790 ton; Italy, 166,762 tons; Denmark, 145,768 tons; France, 138,181 tons; Spain, 95,005 tons; Belgium 89,165 tons; and Norway. 82.953.

Of the tonnage being built abroad at the end of September, 360.208 .tons, or 21.3 per cent, were intended for registration elsewhere than in the country of build or for sale. This included 141,860 tons for Norway, 62,284 tons for France, 58,000 tons for Brazil, and 45,905 tons for Holland. The total of 34.298 tons for sale or for country not stated, and also the high figure of 49 vessels of 137,469 tons on which work had been suspended, related mainly to in countries subjected to enemy occupation during the war. The total shipping under construction in the world, with certain exceptions, amounted to 3,569,159 tons gross, of which 52.5 per cent, was being built in Great Britain' and Ireland, and 47.5 per cent, abroad. During tho quarter under review 360,156 tons were commenced in Great Britain and Ireland and 268,715 tons were launched.

Of the total under construction in Great Britain and Ireland at the end of September, 950,474 tons consisted of steamers, and 913,105 tons of motor ships, while at the same date the tonnage being constructed abroad comprised 653.896 tons of steamers, and 1,010,385 tons of motor ships. Of the merchant shipping in hand throughout the world at the end of September. 2,258,307 tons (more than 63 per cent.), were being built under the inspection of Lloyd’s, Register. Of that total 1.545,598 tons, representing more than 82 per cent, of the total were under construction in Great Britain and Ireland, while of the tout nage being built abroad. 712,709 tons (more than 42 per cent.), were being constructed under the inspection of Lloyd’s Register.