REPLACING LOSSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1917, Page 6

REPLACING LOSSES.

BUILDING NEW SHIPS. LLOYD'S REMARKABLE FIGURES. A glanijc through the supplements of Lloyd's Register of Shipping shows what a vast amount of work is now being carried on in the shipbuilding yards of the world. . .. Every nation, with the exception. ]erhaps, of Germany, is employing c v<-ry ounce of available labor, and every inch of space in the construction of vessels to replace those sunk by submarines. Up to quite recently it looked as :'f Japan would lead the way in this vry important branch of industry. New yards were hurriedly laid out, and a great army of workmen told off to rush through the work. Since then many vessels have been put together in the East, and the rate of output is st'.U 0:1 the increase. The rapid advance in shipbuilding yards owned by our Eastern Ally causp.l British shipowners to look in this direction for new tonnage, and one order for six big ships was placed. Each was turned out well ahead of contract time. MANY NEW VESSELS. Lloyd's Register shows that during the first si* months of 1017 many new vossels were placed into commission, the biggest contributers being England, America and Japan. Recent issues of the supplement to the Register show that England .is now building more 1 vessels than either America or Japan, hut the difference in output, particularly with America, is not likely to be so great in the near future.

Lloyd's Register shows that during the first si* months of 1017 many new vossels were placed into commission, the biggest contributers being England, America and Japan. Recent issues of the supplement to the Register show that England .is now building more 1 vessels than either America or Japan, hut the difference in output, particularly with America, is not likely to be so great in the near future.

The placing of American yards on a wartime footing was a big' problem, but that task is now complete, and the construction in future will be speeded up Japan has not yet launched a standardised class of ship, but that is due to the number of buyers bidding at the yards for vessels of a different class. BIGGEST BRITISH SHIP. The biggest vessel added to the Register this year was turned out by British workmen in an English yard. This ship is of more than 30.000 tons. Her great tonnage placed England well in the lead this year. Some idea of what Germany tackled when she set out to destroy the merchant fleets of the Allies may be gained from the fact that in 14 days, from July 3 to July 17. 152.3R3 tons of new shipping was added to the Register. The figures for that period are not exceptional, because between .Tunc S and July 3 the tonnage put into commission was 285!)29. These figures include ships built in Norway and Sweden, hut as those vessels are trading to England, and consequently are considered fair game for the U-boats, it is but right to add their totals. OLD-TIMERS AFLOAT. During the period that new tonnage was add'ed to the Register a good many old-timers were seaworthy, and ?:jt free to roam the seas, carrying cargoes which made fortunes for their, owners. Th* most, noticeable under this heading v.as the iron steamer Eptalofos, of C 44 tons, which was built in 1875. She was out of running for a considerable time, but the tempting offers held out ti. owners brought her back to the active list. Many other vessels which were considered to have ceased to be of use have ';een docked, overhauled, and given certificates of safety. Some of these are from 2(! to 30 years old, and had it not been for the" war would have rotted when they rested.