Evening journal., 1915-12-27
R|VERSHIP CONTRACTS
Increase IN 1915
Actual Number of Vessels
Constructed, However,
Less Than in 1914
STILL HOLDS POSITION
AS CLYDE OF AMERICA

ghipbuilding on the Delaware river
during 1915 showed decline when COM
pared with the amount of tonnage and
the number of vessels constructed dur
ing 1914.
However, tins decline in the number
of vessels actually completed during the
year is discounted when the fact is
taken into consideration that more con
tracts are held by Delaware river ship
building companies than ever before IN
their existence. For this reason the
Delaware river still maintains its posi-
tion as the Clyde of America. Ship
builders say that more vessels were
launched on the Delaware river IN 1915
than in any other section of the United
States and that contracts now are held
here for more tonnage than at any
place in America
During the last year 2s vessels, with
a total gross tonnage Of 81, ,4S3, made
their initial plunge into the Delaware or
some of its tributaries. This does not
include craft Of 100 tons or less, of which
there were a great number. During the
year Of 1914, 81 vessels, with a gross
tonnage of 50, ,450, were launched, show
ing a decrease of nine and a loss of
l2.967 gross tons. The loss in tonnage
last year is attributed TO unsettled con-.
ditions abroad and at home in regard TO
maritime affairs and the hesitancy Of
capital TO inyest in this line while Ger
tain laws affecting the merchant marine
were being advocated for passage in
Congress.
When the tonnage situation became
acute and the deficit in this worlds mer-
chant marine caused cargoes TO be held
up by lack of vessels ship owners del
rged the shipbuilding companies with
orders As a result of this great short
noe of tonnage and the high freight
rates that are being paid, the Delaware
river shipyards are filed with work, and
no builder can take vessel for delivery
earlier than the spring Of 1918.
The largest vessel launched on the |
Delaware river during 1915 was the
steama Santa Barbara, which was
built al amps for w. r. Grace & Co. |
The vessel is to be engaged in the /
trade between the Atlantic and the Pa I
cilic coasts. or the vessels built on |
the Delaware last year, several were
Of unusual importance. One Of these |
was the lumber steamship William
O'Brien. which was the first one that |
has been built exclusively for the lum-
Der trade between the Gulf and East
ern ports. Two other vessels we're
The steamships Goldshell and Silver
shell. built at the Harlan & Hollings-
worth Corporation. These were the
first steamships that ever had been
ordered from an American yard by a
British corporation The vessels were
built for the Anglo-SaxOn Petroleum
Company. OF London
One large item in the aggregate ton
mage OF 1914 was the launching OF the
hattleship Oklahoma This vessel alone
was 2S5S0 gross tons. The last year
saw a revival in the building OF yes
sells for the American merchant ma
rine, and especially vessels for the
foreign trade.
Contracts are now held by shipbuild- |
Ing companies on the Delaware river
for 50 vessels. with an aggregate ton /
mage of 3S3079. This work Is valued |
at S5S.000,000. or this work there is |
a transport building az the Philadel- !
phia Navy Yard, the battleship Ne |
vada at the New York Shipbuilding |
Company and a number Of torpedo /
boat destroyers. at both the New York /
Shipbuilding Company and Cramps /
Shipyards Work is being turned down |
daily by the three large yards on the |
Delaware river. Inquiries have been |
received from ship owners in Norway. |
Sweden. Denmark. Spain and Italy for |
new tonnage. but all OF these yards |
have had to refuse the orders because
OF the large amount of work now on |
hand.