New Ships Editorials

EDITORIAL NO 025 | 2020

The merchant shipbuilding sector continues to suffer from the impact of the coronavirus crisis but the naval sector was active this week. Canada confirmed a huge order for naval supply ships while Ukraine announced a major order to build patrol…

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EDITORIAL NO 024 | 2020

South Korean yards won another large order for liquefied natural gas (LNG) units this week following their success in the massive deal with Qatar. Korean yards are working on winning even more LNG orders from Russia and Africa. Tanker orders were…

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EDITORIAL NO 023 | 2020

The stage was set for one of the biggest merchant shipbuilding orders in history this week with Qatar signing initial agreements with South Korean yards for around 100 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers costing more than US$19.2 billion. The deals…

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EDITORIAL NO 022 | 2020

The coronavirus crisis again depressed the level of merchant shipbuilding orders, but with some bright spots. South Korea won big contracts for floating storage vessels for liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Central America and Germany. Korea…

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EDITORIAL NO 021 | 2020

A large order for a residency vessel in the style of a cruise ship was placed in Norway this week, giving a signal of confidence in the face of the coronavirus crisis. An order for a new type of sail-assisted VLCC oil tanker was placed in China. But…

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EDITORIAL NO 021 | 2020

A large order for a residency vessel in the style of a cruise ship was placed in Norway this week, giving a signal of confidence in the face of the coronavirus crisis. An order for a new type of sail-assisted VLCC oil tanker was placed in China. But…

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EDITORIAL NO 020 | 2020

Merchant newbuilding orders continued at relatively low levels this week but with some signs of new activity. South Korean yards won orders from Greece for tankers, with talk low prices in the current depressed market are starting to spark purchase…

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EDITORIAL NO 019 | 2020

Chinese yards won a stream of big orders this week, raising a glimmer of hope for a recovery in demand after the huge damage to the world economy from coronavirus. Multi-million dollar contracts were won by Chinese yards including for tankers and…

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EDITORIAL NO 018 | 2020

The coronavirus crisis continued to depress the global shipbuilding market this week, but there were some signs of stronger ordering activity, especially in China. Large orders for VLCC tankers were reported for two Chinese yards. Other Chinese…

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EDITORIAL NO 017 | 2020

Some light at the end of the tunnel for shipbuilders in the coronavirus crisis came this week with one of the largest merchant shipbuilding contracts in the past year set to be placed in China. China also won a large order for an offshore crane…

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EDITORIAL NO 016 | 2020

The world shipbuilding market remains in the grip of the coronavirus economic shutdown, but some shipowners are taking advantage of low prices to place big orders. A large contract was placed in South Korea to build two very large crude carriers…

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EDITORIAL NO 015 | 2020

The coronavirus continues to cause massive world economic disruption, but yards in China and South Korea are reporting some new orders. Low prices are attracting some shipowners to invest in new ships. But many shipping companies are taking a…

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EDITORIAL NO 014 | 2020

The global coronavirus crisis continued to keep world shipbuilding orders at a low level this week. Continued uncertainty about the recession the world is facing because of the lockdowns and curfews imposed to combat coronavirus continue to delay…

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EDITORIAL NO 013 | 2020

Shipbuilding orders continued at a low level this week as the coronavirus continued to cause massive disruption to the world economy. But despite many investment decisions being postponed, some large orders were reported in China and South Korea.…

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EDITORIAL NO 012 | 2020

Good news came at last this week for depressed Chinese yards with a massive order for container ships worth over US$1 billion. A Chinese yard is also set to win an order for two VLCC tankers from Greece. But overall the coronavirus continued to keep…

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EDITORIAL NO 011 | 2020

The coronavirus continued to keep new merchant shipbuilding orders at low levels this week. The uncertainty about whether the world will now face a recession as the coronavirus spreads is reducing the willingness to invest. But orders have not…

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EDITORIAL NO 010 | 2020

The global economic slowdown caused by coronavirus continued to depress shipbuilding orders this week. South Korean yards reported more active orders, with large deals for shuttle tankers, product tankers and a chemical tanker. Chinese orders…

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EDITORIAL NO 009 | 2020

Chinese shipbuilding orders remain at a very low level as the coronavirus continues to cause major economic disruption in the country and worldwide. Chinese yards are now getting back to work but delays in deliveries of new ships are expected…

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EDITORIAL NO 008 | 2020

Shipbuilding orders were still at a generally low level this week as the coronavirus caused global economic uncertainty. Chinese contracts remained depressed although deals for a container ship and bulk carrier were reported. Most Chinese yards were…

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EDITORIAL NO 007 | 2020

The disruption to business in China from the coronavirus was again felt in the world shipbuilding market this week. With extended holidays and transport problems, personnel at some Chinese yards were absent. Some Chinese yards have warned customers…

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EDITORIAL NO 006 | 2020

This week, newbuilding markets were quieter overall than usual, with the coronavirus crisis causing a noticeable slowdown in Chinese economic activity. China had extended its Lunar new year holiday period which caused a further reduction in…

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EDITORIAL NO 005 | 2020

Chinese yards had a successful week despite a long public holiday. The lunar new year holiday period in China and South Korea meant many shipyard executives were absent for part of the week. Chinese orders included tankers for Denmark and bulk…

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EDITORIAL NO 004 | 2020

Europe won big orders for cruise ships this week, with the biggest deal reported in France and another large contract in Portugal. The French project also involves further cooperation between shipyard and owner to investigate sail-powered cruise…

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EDITORIAL NO 003 | 2020

The German navy has awarded its largest naval vessel construction order ever to a Dutch yard, a controversial move after a European Union-wide tender aimed at reducing the price of the ships. German yards will undertake part of the work but will not…

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Editorials

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