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Twin Screw M. S. Highland Monarch, 14,137 Gross Tons. Service Speed 15 Knots. Built by Harland & Wolf, Ltd. British Shipyards Receive Orders as Shipping Outlook Improves RDERS for new _ ships have (@) been coming in steadily dur- ing the last three months of 1928, bringing a welcome change to the position of the shipyards as it appeared at the end of the summer. Thus the shipbuilders of Britain and Ireland are entering the new year with a substantial number of new contracts on their books. The Clyde has been especially favored. 'The ship- building industry, however, is still a long way from enjoying stable and prosperous conditions. Three months ago 60 per cent of the berths were vacant, and the new business is not sufficient to give work to all. From the standpoint of employment, the situation is, in fact, less favorable than a year ago, the number of un- emploved shipyard workers at the end of 1928 being 60,000, as compared with 47,000 at the end of 1927. The present price level for new construc- tion is also unsatisfactory to the builders, and often brings little or no profit. Lord Invernairn of Strath- nairn, chairman of William Beard- more & Co. Ltd., stated at a recent launching that shipbuilding prices had touched rock-bottom level, and that the present tendency is toward a rise. Possibly the low price level now 36 By Vincent Delport European Manager of Marine Review prevailing has been an incentive to owners to place their orders. There is a danger, however, that orders may be placed in excess of the actual needs of the shipping industry, which already - suffers from surplus_ ton- nage. It also is apparent that there is an excess of building capacity in Great Britain. The leading ship- building concerns largely expanded their yards during the war. Ship- ping has not itself expanded as _ it was expected to do, while competi- tion in shipbuilding from foreign yards is far more intense than it was in previous years. Modern General Cargo Boats During the past year there has been a tendency to order modern general cargo boats, and_ several owners have placed contracts for groups of such vessels, from two to six. Another characteristic of the year has been the continued favor shown for large ships; in fact, the White Star liner now building at the yard of Harland & Wolff Ltd., at Belfast, is to be 1000 feet in length and will exceed in size all previous vessels. Special facilities will have to be provided at the terminal ports to accommodate this liner. It has been stated by Lord Kylsant, chair- MARINE REVIEW—February, 1929 man of the White Star line, that the new vessel will be electrically driven. This decision no doubt has been confirmed by the successful op- eration of the CALIFORNIA, and the example set in building the VIRGINIA and of the VICEROY oF INDIA. It is believed that the power will be gen- erated by steam turbines, and that the new liner will be ready in time for the 1931 season. Another large vessel ordered in 1928 is the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, of 40,000 gross tons. The fact that large new liners also have been contracted for in . Germany, France and Italy further indicates that large ships still are looked upon as a profitable venture by trans- atlantic companies. The principal shipbuilding district in Great Britain is along the river Clyde. It extends for several miles outside Glasgow. During 1928 the Clyde launchings were 229 vessels of 601,918 gross tons, as compared with 274 vessels of 462,510 tons in 1927. The 1928 results are the best since 1920. The Canadian Pacific com- pany has placed valuable contracts ~ with Clyde shipbuilders. One of the most recent is for the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, a liner of 40,000 tons in- tended for service between South- ampton and Quebec. The order was