SHIPBUILDING: WORLD'S STATISTICS. The ship building of the world during the 2oth century has undergone considerable changes. Statistics are not available in detail for the years prior to 1894, dating back to the time when steam was definitely replacing sail. About 188o there was as much sailing ship tonnage in existence as steam, but by the beginning of the present century the sailing ships were less than a quarter of the world's total tonnage, and to-day they are a very rapidly decreasing quantity, being only a small fraction of the total.
Tonnage statistics are generally given in gross tons, and for vessels which are of Too gross tons and upwards. There are of course a large number of smaller vessels mainly engaged in the coasting trades which are below that size. Table I gives the annual shipbuilding output of the principal maritime countries since 1894, and Table II gives the amount of motor ships built during the post-war period.
The war period 1914-18 was, of course, very abnormal, and the statistics show that the special endeavours made to build merchant ships during the war were continued until about 1920-21, particu larly in the United States. It will also be seen that, as a result of the war, the shipbuilding facilities of the world were doubled, whereas the actual demand for new ships in the world lagged. The United Kingdom is the greatest shipbuilding country in the world. Whereas in 1894 the great majority of ships were built in the United Kingdom, yet other countries, particularly Germany, developed rapidly. For the 9 years 1905-13, the United Kingdom built nearly two-thirds of the world's ships. (W. S. A., X.) Additions to the world's mercantile fleets in the year ending June 3o, 1938, is given by Lloyd's Register of Shipping as 114,471 steam tonnage and 1,484,240 tons in motor ships. Decrease in sailing ships and non-propelled craft was 38,224 tons, making a net increase of 1,560,487 tons, compared to 1,222,381 the pre ceding year. The new tonnage for the year ending June 3o, 1938,
was divided among principal shipbuilding nations as follows: Japan, 531,602 tons; Germany, 306,594; Norway, 266,393; Great Britain, 236,918; Holland, 221,061; Panama, 98,720; British Do minions, 81,393; Italy, 77,85o; Sweden, 73,732. The largest de creases for the year were in the United States, China, and Spain.
In 1914 the combined tonnage of all motor ships above ioo tons was 234,000 tons. In 1938 it was 15,232,953 tons. This rapid in crease in the use of internal combustion engines as marine motive power has, however, stimulated extensive technological advance in the design of steam engines, especially turbines. In 1914 the combined tonnage of vessels powered with turbine engines or with a combination of turbine and reciprocating steam engines was 730,000 tons. In 1938 it was 12,141,535 tons. The total of steam tonnage in 1938 was 51,637,198 tons. Motor ships have an advan tage in that less space and weight are required by oil. Both turbine and reciprocating steam engines are being designed to economize on fuel. It may be noted that the "Queen Elizabeth," launched Sept. 27, 1938, with a displacement of 85,00o tons and a length of 1,030 feet, is steam powered; likewise, the new "Mau retania," launched July 28, 1938, displacement 34,00o tons, length 772 feet. Mercantile vessels under construction June 3o, 1938, totalled 2,826,902 tons.
The United States Maritime Commission had in 1938 awarded contracts for construction of 33 ships costing $95,000,000, in a plan to build 500 ships in io years, costing $1,500,000,000. Electric welding has advanced rapidly in ship construction, especially in tankers, 98 of which were building in 1938.