In this year to November, global shipbuilding industry recorded new orders for 1,912 newbuildings of a combined 121m dwt (42.20m cgt), up by 158% from a year ago in dwt terms.  

According to recent data of Clarkson Research, while shipbuilding market has shown great recovery trend overall, as above, offshore-related contracts were signed only for 243 units, down by 49%, year-on-year. Orders for Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel declined by 51% compared to corresponding period a year ago while drillship and FPSO contracts also fell by 59% and 60%, respectively.

For the first 11 months of the year, contract value for offshore vessels came only at $25.4bn, greatly falling short of a historic high, or $47.8bn recorded in 2012.

Entire value for newbuilding contracts was estimated at $89.9bn in total, in this year to November, slightly increasing from last year’s annual value, $89.6bn. By vessel type, $25.4bn orders were inked for offshore-related vessels, $21.5bn for bulkers, $15.1bn for containerships, $11.3bn for gas carriers (LNGC/LPGC), $10.5bn for tankers, $3.4bn for cruise ships and so on.

Particularly, the gas carrier sector accounted for 12% share of entire new orders, recording the largest proportion since 2005.

Year to date, LPG carrier orders were placed for 105 units worth $4.4bn, of which 80,000 cum VLGC were inked for 37 units.