WORLD’S TONNAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18804, 6 March 1923, Page 6

WORLD’S TONNAGE.

INCREASED CONSTRUCTION. Though there was a reduction o£ about 148,000 tons in tho British ship-building figures for the last quarter of 1922, as compared with those of tho previous quarter, Lloyd's Register Shipping Returns for tbo period, now to haud, show a considerable increase in the number of vessels commenoodi over vessel launched. At tho end of 1922 tho merchant tonnage under construction in Great Britain and Ireland amounted to 1,468,699, which includes at least 348,000 tons on which work had been suspended for some time. During tho quarter the tonnage of tho vessels launched was 260,583, or 46,644 tons leas than in the previous quarter, while the tonnage of tho vessels commenced! was 231,187, or 148,759 tons more than in the previous quarter. Compared with the same period of 1921, these figures indicate a tremendous recovery. The total merchant tonnago building in other countries is 1,485,719, but this includes about 216,000 tors upon which work lias been suspended, leaving about 1,270,060 actually under construction. Tho figures for the leading countries are:—Germany and Danzig, 403,877 tons; Holland, 142,969 tons; United States, 139,443 tons, Italy, 211,499 tons; Franco, 188,525 tons; and J span, 93,831 tons. The total tonnago actually under construction throughout the world is 2,390,000, which is 1,057,000 tons leas than the highest figure reached before - the war in 1913.