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ards Get Many Shi Requests For Bids Chiefly Are From Ameri Interests--Shortage of Passenger Steamers s SHIPBUILDING under con- A struction declines to around the 2,000,000-ton mark, pessimism begins to display itself in some quar- This is due to the fact that an incorrect measure of world shipbuild- ing is being taken. it has been prophesied by classification authorities that the normal construction in Amer- ican yards is more likely to be around 1,000,000 tons of ships a :yeat, and 3 is believed that the English yards will also be content to do an equal amount of work. Constructing 6,000,000 tons of ships in one year was the record set by the United States during the pressure of war. No one expected that record would be_ maintained. Shipbuilding, however, reflects in a measure the condition of the freight market. During the past month, ocean freight rates have held rather firm although they seem to be at rock bottom. Bunker costs have been high and new shipping enterprises could see little hope even for a living wage in the present market. Added to this has been a slump in the volume of freights resulting from radical readjustments of ters. international trade, fluctuations in foreign exchange and a_ worldwide tendency toward lower commodity prices. Shipping has reflected all these conditions, and the immediate result is that no new construction ventures have been launched. Inquiries Are Numerous This does not measure the future activities of American shipyards. There have been enough feelers in the mar- ket during the past month to keep up the hopes of the builders. At the moment, foreign buyers of ships are hesitating about placing orders. be- cause they are well advised of the change in conditions in England. Eng- land has been suffering a decline in the freight market, a cancellation of shipbuilding orders, labor troubles and reduced commodity prices. Until that oe becomes normal again, new ee Projects will be postponed by x gn shipping people. Nothwith- anding this "holding off' era, the a yards have been successful in at ng some business, and a large &r of promising projects are now On the boards. oe a the construction of Ry S tor British interests has aken by the George A. Fuller BY V. G. IDEN Coy Wilmington, N. C. These are to be steel tankers of about 9200 dead- weight fons each and are to be de- livered early next year. This makes contracts for eight tankers let in this country by the Anglo-Saxon Petro- leum Co. It is reported further that the same British company now is negotiating for letting contracts for 10 more tankers of similar design. The Baltimore Dry Docks & Ship Building Co. has drawn plans for the construction of two tankers, which will be erected for its own 'account. It is reported this company plans to go into the operating business, at least for the transportation of oil. Finances Ship Purchases Another announcement of import- ance during the past month was the new bond issue of the Bethlehem Steel Corp., which issue is to cover addi- tions to the maritime enterprises of that corporation. Bethlehem has plans for building six more bulk carriers to add to its present fleet, operated by the Ore Steamship Co. These bulk carriers are used to bring iron ore from Cuba to Baltimore. One of the bulk carriers, however, will be built under an arrangement with the Stand- ard Oil Co., whereby Bethlehem is to build one bulk carrier capable of trans- porting oil to Chile and bringing iron ore back upon condition that the Standard Oil Co. will build a sister ship for the same trade. The keels of these boats upon advanced designs are expected to be laid before the end of the year. During the past month, however, the shipping board cancelled con- tracts with the Bethlehem company for three passenger boats, contracts for which were entered into during the war. These contracts were cancelled because the keels to the three vessels had not been laid and delivery of the vessels had, consequently, been greatly delayed. The vessels were originally designed for troop ships, but later their design was changed to combina- tion boats. oa Freight boats under construction in American yards have shown a month- ly decline ever since last April. There was a decline in the tanker tonnage under construction in August. Much is expected, however, of this saa type of tonnage. According to nava architects there are about 400,000 tons 605 p Inquiries can Shipping e Pronounce ed of tankers for construction, contracts for which have not as yet been let but for which Operators are vais plans. It is anticipated, on the other hand, that not a great deal of this tonnage will be placed for construc- tion before the first of the year. Politics, _ unsettled shipping conditions, and limited credits are obstacles which will cause the delay. Passenger Tonnage Gains Passengeer tonnage, it is expected, will forge to the front before many more months have passed. The New York Shipbuilding Corp. Camden, N. J, has laid the keel for the first of the Munson passengers. This ship was designed by Theodore Ferris and will measure about 400 feet between per- pendiculars. It is expected .to have the completed ship delivered by Sep- tember, 1921. She will then be used in the South American and West In- dies trades. It is not at all unlikely but that she also may be diverted into the overseas trade should the occasion arise. This vessel will have De Laval gears, and a turbine of advanced design built upon the Par- sons plans. She will have the Dahl system of oil burning built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. Soon to follow will be the "intermediate" steamers to be built for the American line. There will likely be two of these ships, to measure approximately 20,000 tons deadweight. The plans have been drawn, but it is understood the company 'is not ready to let con- tracts. The Admiral line on the Pacific coast is said to be contemplating com- ing to Atlantic coast builders for two new express passenger steamers for its coasting trade. These vessels will measure 560 feet in length and will be rather fast steamers. Contracts soon will be let. The Red D line will also let contracts shortly for two passenger ships, but these will measure but 385 feet between perpendiculars. They are 'ntended for the service between New York and Venezuela and other north coast ports of South America. The Downey Shipbuilding Corp. has launched the Ex Estero for the Southern Pacific Co., Atlantic Steamship lines of New York. She measures 352 feet im length overall and is designed especially for the coastwise trade. Two other sister ships are building. The Submarine Boat Corp.