Shipping
p. 96 · Read in the full issue
100,000 Tons of New Shipping Launched in October
IN October four launchings alone produced over 100,000 tons of new British shipping, or roughly the same total as the monthly target which had been set for the whole of the U.K. shipbuilding industry.
When she went down the slipways on October 14, the new 31,000 tons Orient liner “Orcades” had the dis tinction of being the largest new passenger vessel launched anywhere in the world since the end of the war, but almost ready even then for launching before the end of the month was the still larger “Caronia,” of 34,000 tons. The other two ships to leave the stocks were the “Edin
burgh Castle” (28,500 tons) and the “Uruguay Star” (12,000 tons).
The “Orcades” is expected to enter the English-Australia run early next year.
Back to the service to Australia last month went the famous “Esper ance Bay,” noted in the tourist trade before 1939 and later as a trooper the Germans often wrongly claimed to have sunk during the war. Wall send shipworkers spent nine months in reconverting the “Esperance Bay” and in fitting many improvements, including a new ventilation system.
Two other pre-war liners returned to sea in October—the “Canton” on the Hong Kong route, and the “Ormonde.” re-entering the Austra lian service as an emigrant ship. Re conversion work on the “Ormonde” cost £270,000 sterling.
British Tonnage Up To 14,000,000 Now MORE than 300 ships, most of them motor vessels, are at present under construction or on order in British yards for overseas account.
They range from 200 ton lighters to a 21,000 whaling factory and three passenger liners each of 18,000 tons.
Almost every class of ship is repre sented—light ships, fishing trawlers, coal and timber carriers, motor tugs, tankers and passenger-cargo ships.
The list promises full activity for the British shipbuilding industry for many months to come.
The total tonnage on order in Britain for overseas is estimated at a figure very close to one and a half million tons. Provided the steel is available, these orders may all be completed within two years. Their total value is over £40,000,000 sterling.