THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8074, 19 March 1901, Page 3

THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE

When many industries are bewailing a of orders, and a disappearance of the margin between costs and selling price, it is "pleasant (says 'Engineering") tf> find that the shipbuilding trade has still f.kir prc?pe<"ts befor.? it. The year war- :i time of great, activity, and a laret aicruat of thipping was lannchsd. But, in tp:'-e cf the many vessels which left the stocks for the water, there were, excluding war ships 445 vessels, of 1,269.919 gross tops, under construction in the United Kingdom at the close of the quarter ending December 51. 1900. These figures .» small decrease of 95 vessels and 50.802 tons, compared with the corresponding figure* for 1899. As compared with the retttra for December, 1898, which

' is the highest on record, there is a reaue- ' tion of 131,000 tons. \ The work com- ' raenced during the last quarter is greater than that Liunched, which is a very satis- ■. factors- feature. There were commenced 187 vessels of 482,754 gross tons, while there were launched 179 vessels of 438,668 tons. In addition there were nine vessels previously commenced on which no further progress had been made. The size of vessels is steadily growing; the trade of the world becomes mores and more wholesale. There are at present on the stocks thirteen ve.-sels of 10.000 tons, and upwards, two of 9000 to 9999 tons, one of 8000 to 8999 tons. 10 of 7000 to 7999 tons. 16 of 6000 to 6999 tons, 23 of 5000 to 5999 tons, and 66 i:f 4000' to 4999 tons. In addition to mercantile vessels, there are at private yards 53 warships under construction, of 260,505 tons displacement, and, if to this be added the vessels in Government yards, we get a total of 65 vessels and 390.145 tons. Foreign countries ore also busy in producing new ships. Excluding warships, there are under construction in France 121,158 tons, in Germanv 217.321 tons, and in the United States 197.888 tans. The smaller countries also make their contribution to the world's total, even China having 8190 toes in hand, !tnd Prince Edward Island 500 ttm*.