Protection of Fuel Tanks Safety ahead! - GL Group

MARITIME SERVICES | NEWS
MARKET STUDY
Shipbuilding Boom
Continues
The recent shipbuilding market study
by HypoVereinsbank, Hamburg,
leaves no room for doubt. Shipyards
and suppliers can expect to be working
at their limits for years to come,
while market prices will reach record
levels.
For over three years, the world’s
shipbuilding industry has been enjoying
its most persistent and vigorous
high tide ever. On 1 August 2006, there
were 5,386 ships on order worldwide
with a total tonnage of 269.1 million
dwt (an international unit of measure
for ship sizes), or 117.4 million CGT
(another international unit of measure
for ships), and a total ordered value of
US$ 263.9 billion.
The situation looks bright for German
shipbuilders. German shipyards
STG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Need for a Long-term Perspective
Whatever the reason, the opening
night of this year’s annual
meeting of the Schiffbautechnische
Gesellschaft, Germany’s time-honoured
Society for Maritime Technology,
at Hotel Hafen Hamburg was
unusually crowded. STG honorary
member Bernhard Meyer, owner of
the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg,
enlightened the audience on
the strengths and opportunities of
the German shipbuilding industry.
Referring to the current high level of
incoming orders, he used the steel,
copper and nickel markets as examples
to illustrate the exotic world
of pricing, showing how difficult it
can be to make sound price calcula-
ADMONISHION. Shipbuilder
Bernhard Meyer discussing the
future of the industry.
6 nonstop 4/2006
Photo: Bogumil
THE LAUNCH. Newly-built
vessel by tanker specialist
Lindenau-Werft.
are currently profiting from a boom in
the container and specialty ship sectors
where Far-Eastern shipyards are
unable to meet the current demand so
orders have been rerouted to Europe.
Innovative power. By collaborating
more closely, European shipbuilders
could position themselves even better.
German shipbuilders in particular,
tions in a high-demand situation.
The high-end luxury yacht and
cruise ship sector will offer shipbuilders
attractive opportunities
during the next ten years. Continued
product innovation and further
improvements to the industry’s internal
structure are prerequisites for
translating opportunities into business
success. Collaboration in research
projects in the areas of manufacturing
and logistics could generate
competitive advantages. Cooperative
purchasing on a national and
international level will save costs.
Competition from Asia. Citing deficits
in engineer training, Meyer called
upon the government to step up its
support for education. He also criticized
the high social security contributions
as a factor compromising international
competitiveness.
The high cost of labour, he said, is
just as problematic for shipbuilders
as the excessive bureaucracy. He particularly
referred to current tax legislation
levying taxes on the common
practice of interim financing of newbuildings.
Urging the political decision-makers
not to underestimate
the long-term aspirations of the
great Asian nations, he said: “They
want to achieve something. They
want to participate in our wealth.”
as well as the world-leading German
supply industry, should further leverage
their innovative potential: leadingedge
ship design, superior quality and
innovation, reliable delivery timing,
and flexibility will be key parameters
for competing successfully in the international
marketplace.
ORDERBOOK
New Record in
October
PRESENTATION.
GL Executive
Rainer Schöndube.
Classification orders for more
than 100 newbuildings with a
total GTI number of 2.1 million
set the monthly record in orders
received for 2006, topping the
total volume of the year 1995. By
the end of October, orders totalled
1,116 ships with a joint GTI of 19.6
million. “Based on our current orders
on hand, we expect 2006 to be
another year with a double-digit
growth rate,” said Germanischer
Lloyd Board of Executives Member
Rainer Schöndube.
Photo: Bogumil