OUR MERCHANT FLEET.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 92, 31 March 1911, Page 11

OUR MERCHANT FLEET.

Things are not quite what they seem when the “Statistical Tables” of Lloyd's Register for 1910 are considered. Thus it would appear that when allowance is made for additions to and removals from the register of the United Kingdom last year, there was an increase of 210 steamers, of 260,431; tons, and a decrease of 279 sailing vessels, of 201,263 tons. This, as the return says, gives a net decrease of sixtynine vessels, and a net increase of 59,169 tons. As, however, one ton of steam is equal to at least three tons of sail, the increase in effective tonnage is infinitely greater. It is within measurable distance of 200,000 tons of steam. Large as have been the removals of sail tonnage of recent years, those of 1910 stand out as exceptionally great. The overwhelming preponderance of steam may be judged from the following approximate statement of the United Kingdom register on December 31 last:— Vessels. Tons gross. Steam 12,007 17,255,164 Sail 9,113 1,206,206 Totals .. 1,120 18,461,3702 On the basis of effectiveness above mentioned, our steam fleet’s

more than forty times as great as our sail fleet. It has also to be noted that this preponderance of steam is not only unique in history, but that it represents tonnage of a higher average class than that owned by any other nation. Last year we sold to foreigners over half a million tons of second-hand shipping. Some of it, of course, was bought to break up. But much of it was acquired with a view to using it on the high seas under other flags.