WORLD'S SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 7

WORLD'S SHIPPING

Four hundred and sixty-two new vessels had the society's classification assigned to them during the year

ended on June 30, states the annual report of Lloyd's Register of Shipping for that period. The report includes a large amount of statistical data about the shipping industry generally The gross tonnage of the 462 new vessels classed was 1.515,580 the highest since 1930-31. Of this tonnage

810,308 were constructed in Great Britain and Ireland and 705,272 in countries abroad. The report records a serious falling off in orders placed for new tonnage. Plans of 365 ships of 1,140,900 tons gross were approved, and this total is only 51 per cent, of the high total of the previous year. Figures for 1936-1937. were however

hieher than for any other year since 1919-1920. Considered to be an indication of the continued confidence of the shipping community in the classification of Lloyd's Register, the statistics for tonnage under construction for classifi* cation in the register book at the end of last June show that 89 per cent, of

the total being built in jreal Britain and Ireland and about 60 per cent, of the total under construction in the world is intended for classification. It is also stated that since July 1. 1937, more than 851,000 tons of shipping have been broken up or sold for that purpose Adding to this figure 534,400

tons lost by casualty or stress of weather, the total diminution of world tonnage through these causes is shown to be more than 1,385,000 tons. Other information given in the report includes a review of research work carried out by Lloyd's during the vear.