WORLD SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 9

WORLD SHIPPING

INCREASED TONNAGE BRITAIN STILL THE LEADING BUILDER Great Britain and Northern Ireland were responsible for 50.9 per cent, of the shipbuilding activity in the world during 1948, according to a copy of the annual summary of Lloyds Register of Shipping, which has been sent to the Daily Times. This compares with 56.7 per cent, in 1947, 53 per cent, in 1946 and 34 per cent, in 1938.

The figures were made up of 158 steamers of 502,045 tons, 184 motor ships of 674,301 tons and 125 nonpropelled craft of 22,861 tons. With the exception of two fishing trawlers. of 234 tons, all the vessels were built of steel.

Of the tonnage launched during the year. 410.056 or 34.9 per cent., were for owners residing abroad. This compares with 31.7 per cent, in 1947 and 10 per cent, in 1946. Of the total tonnage, 133,474 were launched for Norway. 69,195 for Portugal. 61.423 for British dominions overseas. 33.508 for Sweden. 21,900 for Argentina, 21.758 for France, and 19.331 for Holland. The United States produced 38.430 tons less last year than in 1947. The total for the year was 126.418 tons, comprised of 33 ships of 107.087 tons built on the Atlantic coast, seven ships of 15,524 tons built on the Gulf of Mexico, two ships of 892 tons built on the Pacific coast, and seven vessels of 2915 tons built on the Great Lakes. There was an overall increase of 217,090 tons of shipping launched throughout the world last year. These figures do not include Germany. Russia. or Japan, from which no returns have been made.