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 wait-and-see approach, delaying their new ship orders until there is more clarity about the economic impact of coronavirus. A large order for methanol carriers was reported for South Korea. China won several bulk carrier orders. The U.S. government plans the early award of several big naval shipbuilding contracts to help U.S. yards overcome the economic crisis caused by coronavirus and placed a big order for a training vessel.