TYNE SHIPBUILDING.

West Coast Times, Issue 7653, 21 March 1890, Page 2

TYNE SHIPBUILDING.

While a small improvementin trade is noted st one or two o£ the principal ports, the Tyna in 1889 witnessed a remarkable developement of the shipbuilding industry, the tonnage of the vessels launched in the 12 months reaching the large total of 281,710 tons, as compared with 218,205 tone in 1888/ A good deal of work, however, was taken at low prices, some shipbuilders and engineers ia?ing contracted considerably ahead; and'we also gather that during the past two months there has been a great falling off in the number of inquiries for ordinary merchant tonnage as compared with the same period of last year. Two specialties have, however, come into the market, which Wtll keep certain employers occupied for some time to come. One of these is the Government •rders, a fair share of which has been allotted to the Tyne ; and the other is that a great masy steamers for special purposes have been erdered. Some of the great lines of steamers have been, in consequence of improved rates, induced not only to replace their old ships with new ones of modern type, but also to extend the area of then? operations, and, f therefore, a certain percentage of the tonnage j that has been built is not tonnage that will go into the market Junder the term of ordinary mercantile steamers. But, at the same time, it must be borne in mind that, although those regular lines have disposed of a certain number of old vessels which have been replaced by new ones, the old steamers, having changed •wners, are now, or will be, employed in ordinary commerce.