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World Charter Market Reviewed hb SEE STRIKE FAIL Vessel Operators Able to Clear 936 Ships -- Strikers Hold Only 190 -- Shippers' Confidence Returns 3 ESPITE the strike of the American engineers D and notwithstanding the threatening trouble with American deck officers next August, more | confidence recently has been shown in the shipping situation than for some time. The coal market con- tinued active during May and many other orders have been fixed. The engineers' strike has not seri- ously crippled the American merchant marine. During the first 22 days of the strike, a total of 936 American steamers were able to depart while only 190 were held by the strikers. San Francisco and New Orleans were the hardest hit. Governmental efforts to bring about a compromise were futile and the American Steamship Owners' association insists it intends not to recognize the union and that pos- sibly another cut in wages will be necessary before the year is out. Strike disturbances in the marine industry are not confined to the United States. The engineers and sailors of Norway are on strike against a proposed 33 per cent reduction in wages. English operators are also endeavoring to bring about a lower wage scale and without the spectacular trouble that has been staged in other countries. Following a long period of capitulation to the unions, the steamship interests at Buenos Aires are endeavoring to utilize nonunion longshoremen for loading and unloading. Their efforts are proving somewhat successful. The Munson liner MartHa WasHINGTON has left on her return voyage, after being held at the Argentine port for nearly two months. Another effort is being made by the shipping board to dispose of May Again some of the government tonnage. An offer to sell three steel cargo Try To Sell steamers brought bids from Carter Abroad &: Carter, New 'York, and from the Lueckenbach. line.. The board has ° also asked for bids on -six ex-Ger- «man vessels. It is also understood the 'board will attempt again to sell abroad its surplus tonnage. This is in line with the desire of the board to bring its fleet up to a higher point of efficiency. The activity in the charter market has been especially encouraging during the past month. Some are of the opinion this may not continue for long, but the evidence is that the recovery, being gradual, is of a permanent nature. During May the Tepe board issues orders to withdraw 76 more ships from caretaker, assigning approxi 500,000 deadweight tons more the Nive a ican fleet. To the shipping board is due Such ck eee it the 1 credit for bringing a form of stability in the rate oe tion. Joseph A. Nash, manager of the Lloyd Royal Belge, has publicly praised the board for its stand on rates. The sizable orders for coal in the Amer- ican market have undoubtedly played an important part in this. But coal was not alone the com- modity that was offered freely for shipment. Some large grain orders for Hamburg have also ap- peared, likewise some miscellaneous orders. Rates advanced in the transatlantic trade and held rather firmly throughout the month. There were material declines, however, in the outward rates to South American ports, but the situation became some- what easier during the latter part of the month. Due to the enactment of the emergency tariff, steamers rushed sugar from Cuba to American ports during May. In Philadelphia every available ware- house was filled and some craft were chartered in the harbor as temporary warehouses. 'The inter- coastal business has developed considerable brisk- ness, 11 companies being kept active. France has removed the surtax on goods passing through Antwerp to Alsace-Lorraine and the Saar district. This means a saving of surtaxes of 153 per cent on American shipments via Antwerp. Wash- ington also announced that as Poland and Danzig do not impose any discriminatory duties on Amer- ican vessels, their ships will be given equal treat- ment in American ports. Settlement of the receivership cases involving vessels bought upon Receiver the deferred payment plan from the : : shipping board is proceeding grad- Suits Being ually. The court has ordered re- Settled turned to the board 22 ships from Pp the 9 companies now in hands of receivers. All such receivership vessels as were not actually in operation were re- turned. This decision was rendered upon applica- tion of the board. The affairs of Green Star line have been precipitated by filing of an involuntary petition in bankruptcy. The court has held that application 'to apply against one or two individual ships and not against the op- erating -.com- pany. Now the World Shipowners Meet Tiited:. States NTEREST of American. ship- Steamship Co. owners has been aroused by the is suing the announcement of an_ international conference on shipping to be held in London, England, in October. The Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom has invited shipowners of the world to meet at that time to discuss many marine problems which have gained international importance. American support is indicated by the attitude of James A. Farrell, All of these in urging such a. conference as a difficulties have means of preventing the present contributed to serious losses in the shipping busi- government be- cause the board demanded back - ships, sold. "it when the com- pany refused to hold out against the striking en- gineers. Create som é ESE hostility toward the board. A tormal> accusa- tion of favorit- ism fidbed 322 Problems such as the estab- lishment of a fixed percentage of each nation's merchant fleet to be kept active during a shipping de- pression, are to be considered.