SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19149, 15 October 1925, Page 11

SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

DECREASE IN BUILDING. SEPTEMBER QUARTER RETURNS, A. and N.Z. LONDON. Oct, 13. The depression which exists in the shinping, industry is clearly reflected in Lloyd 's Register. The shipbuilding returns for the quarter ended September 30, show that 1,000,000 tons are being constructed in Britain and Ireland. This is a decrease of over 84,000 tons compared with the quarter ended June 30, and of about 459,000 tons compared with the September quarter of 1924. In the past quarter work was suspended on 81 ships, compared with only 37 in the three months ended September 30, 1924. The present totals are the lowest recorded since December, 1909, and 881,000 tons below the average of ships building 12 months before the war. The tonnage of vessels commenced in the past quarter is 260,000, compared with 189,000 during the second quarter of this year, but the tonnage launched during the past quarter (223,000) shows a decrease of 72,000 tons compared with the previous quarter. The total world tonnage now under construction is 2,208,000, a decrease of 162,000 compared with the previous quarter, and of 1,239,000 tons compared with the highest pre-war record. The remarkable development of motor tonnage is shown by the fact that the tonnage of vessels now building in the world to be fitted with internal combustion engines is 1,088.000. The tonnage of steam vessels under construction is 1,090,000.