Study says new ships in demand but hard fought-over

A German study says despite recession, newbuildings remain in high demand world wide, but that shipyards are having to fight hard for every order, reports Tom Todd.
 The study, in Hamburg’s respected port publication THB, says that 3,953 newbuildings of 232.5 million dwt on order world wide as of the start of July, with bulkers most in demand. Bulkers accounted for 1,586 of the ships and almost half the tonnage - 124.5 million dwt, the THB said. Firm orders for 442 container ships of total 38.2 million dwt were also recorded.
German yards lost the battle for standard ship types with cheaper Far East yards years ago. However they still lead in the passenger, ro-ro and specialised tonnage sectors which accounted for most of the 26 ocean ships and 40 inland vessels completed by German yards last year and worth nearly €2.9 billion. The Germans also recorded 55 ships of 1.4 billion gt worth €8.5 billion on order at the start of 2013 after adding 18 more of 445 million gt in 2012.
Shipbuilding association (VDS) chairman Harald Fassmer said in May the challenges being faced were “gigantic” but that despite all the knocks German shipbuilding was still “in good shape”.
Specialist orders from abroad and from home authorities are mainly responsible for that. Most German shipowners however continue to go to the Far East and Asia for cheaper standard ship series. Last year they took delivery of 160 ships and reports said only five were built in Germany.
One such owner, HS Schiffahrt in Haren, has just completed an expansion programme by taking delivery of the 8,200dwt, China-built multi-purpose Anna. She is the last in a series of three such ships of up to 11,000dwt and five 800 TEU container feeders. A Damen-Combifreighter with two 60 ton NMF cranes and A1 ice-class, she is driven by a type 6M32 MaK main engine developing 13.5 knots and is now in Dutch charter as Onego Rotterdam.
HS is reported considering more new tonnage from China. Another owner Krey Schiffahrt in Leer has already re-ordered there. Krey has just booked up to four 12,550dwt heavy cargo newbuildings each worth a reported €18.5 million.  
Source: Motor Ship