EDITORIAL NO 030 | 2019

Merchant shipbuilding orders remained at relatively low levels this week, with the summer pause continuing to depress activity. A large series of dual-fuel chemical tankers was ordered in China along with a big inland waterways chemical tanker. South Korea won a major order for a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) carrier. Korean yards reported a disappointing newbuilding order performance for the first half of 2019 and are pinning hopes on a massive newbuilding programme from Qatar to reach targets in the second half of the year. Controversy continues about the opening of tenders to EU-wide bidding to build naval vessels in Germany and Britain, with the British government delaying offers to construct naval support vessels as the latest Brexit deadline approaches.