Global newbuilding orders contracted by February this year are reported to be a total of 190 vessels of a combined 13.6m dwt, 4.1m cgt, showing a 67% increase (dwt) year-on-year, according to data from Clarkson.
Particularly, notable is the fact that three major commercial ships, including bulker, tanker and containership which have gone through a severe downturn last year, are seen to recover greatly.  
By vessel type, new orders contracted for bulker by February were estimated to be 60 vessels of a cumulative 5m dwt, more than last year’s 312 vessels of a combined 21.2m dwt. Especially, capesize bulker (larger than 100,000 dwt) saw a total of 19 orders of a combined 3.4m dwt, already exceeding half of last year's orders totalling 29 vessels of 5.5m dwt.
As for tanker segment (larger than 10,000 dwt), 49 vessels of a combined 6.1m dwt were recorded ordered by February, greatly outpacing last year’s annual orders contracted for 151 vessels of 13m dwt.
A total of 13 VLCCs of a combined 4.2m dwt were newly ordered, close to last year’s annual orders of 14 vessels or 4.4m dwt, while 21 product carriers (30,000-60,000 dwt) of 1.1m dwt were ordered during the same period, exceeding one third of last year’s 65 vessels of 3.1m dwt. Chemical product carrier (10,000-60,000 dwt) was reported to be ordered as many as 12 vessels of 500,000 dwt showing an uptrend against last year’s record of 37 vessels of 1.6m dwt.
Moreover, in containership segment, large sized ones (over 8,000 teu) were ordered as many as nine, seen as faster ordering move than last year’s orders for 25 vessels while six mid-sized vessels (3,000-8,000 teu) were booked also showing an improvement compared to last year’s 29 vessels contracted.  
Meanwhile, new orders contracted for LNG carrier and LPG carrier were reported to be seven, respectively, showing a sluggish ordering compared to 36 and 51 vessels each contracted last year, furthermore, in offshore segment, a total of 28 vessels were inked that, a slow order activity is seen against last year’s total orders for 355 vessels.