THE WORLD'S SHIPBUILDING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 9

THE WORLD'S SHIPBUILDING

— « GREAT BRITAIN'S PREDOMINANCE It is not to be expected that the record in shipbuilding established in 1913, both at Home and abroad, would be equalled last year. The annual return compiled by "Lloyd's Register" shows that in the United Kingdom the output of merchant vessels declined by 248,600 tons, while the figures for all foreign countries (which are, however, necessarily incomplete) show an apparent decrease of 231,000 tons. That Britain's great lead in ship construction was easily maintained will be seen from the following table, giving particulars of last year's production at Home and abroad: — U. Kingdom. Other Countries. No, Tonnage. No. TonnaeeSteamers 621 1,674,358 473 1,111,027 Sailing ships. 35 9,195 190 58,173 Totals ~656 1,683,553 663 U6MOO Of Britain's total output.over 75 per per cent., or 1,273,530 tons, was built for registration in the United Kingdom. The amount of tonnage launchea for other countries was 410,023, forming 24 1-3 per cent, of' the total output, as compared with over 21J per cent, ill 1913 and nearly 24 per cent, .in 1912. Tonnago intended for tho British colonies amounted to 36,736. Of other countries, Holland provided the largest amount of . work for the shipbuilders of the United Kingdom, namely, fifteen vessels of 88,097 tons (nearly 5i per cent, of the total output). Norway occupied the 6econd position with 67,827 tons, being followed by Greece with 41,543 tons, and Belgium with 35,951 tons. Steamers oontinue to increase in size. Excluding vessels of less than 600 tons, the average of the remaining steamers reached 4460 tons gross, aconsiderable advance on the averages of the five preceding years. Seventyone vessels of 6000 tons and above were launched. Of these, thirteen were over 10,000 tons each, the'largest being the White Star liner Britannic, of 47,500 tons, the Holland-Amerika liner, Statendam, of 32,500 tons, and the Belgenland, of 26,500 tons, Among shipbuilding centres the Clyde district occupied tlie first place, showing an output of 444,621 tons (Glasgow 288,103 tons and ' Greenock 196,518 tons). Then follow the Tyne (315,585 tons), the Wear (277.528 tons), Belfast (239,819 tons), Middlesbrough (137,165 tons), and Hartlepool (124,419 tons). At the end of December there were under construction, including a number of vessels already launched but not completed, 57 vessels of between 6000 and 10,000 tons, seven of between 10.000 and 15,000 tons, ten of between 15,000 and 20,000 tons, four of between 20,000 and 40,000 tons, v and one of 47,500 tons. Germany heads the list of foreign countries with an output of 387.194 tons, followed by the United States with 200,762 tons, Holland with 118,153 tons, and France with 114,052 tons. Germany's production shows an apparent decrease of 78,000 tons. Twentyeight steamers of between 5000 tons and 10,000 tons were launched in that country during the year, and six of over 10,000 tons. The largest was the Hamburg-Amerika turbine liner Bismarck, of about 56,000 tons gross, launched at Hamburg, one of the "two biggest vessels now afloat.