BRITISH SHIPBUILDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 June 1931, Page 7

BRITISH SHIPBUILDING

RECORD DECLINE The depression in shipbuilding in British yard,si is confirmed by the latest returns of Lloyd’s Register which show that the vessels under construction at 21st March totalled only 693,814 tons, which is 921,179 tons less than the total a year previously; this decline is the largest over recorded during any twelve months, with the exception of the year 1922, when, following the completion of the large shipbuilding programme occasioned by the war, there occurred an abnormal decline in the tonnage then under construction. Furl hermore, only 32,685 tons of shipping were commenced in British shipyards during the quarter, under review, a paltry figure when it 'S remembered that during the six months ending 31st March, 1930. the monthly average of shipping commenced was, over 154,000 tons. ’ There were 132 vessels on the stocks at the end of the quarter; of these, 57 vessels, aggregating 225,502 lons, were for owners ill the British Dominions and in foreign countries. On the other hand, vessels under construcion in other countries amounted to 1,306,052 tons, which is 344,084 tons loss than a year previously.