New-York tribune., 1918-11-19
Norwegians Would
Have Ships Built
In United States
Maritime Interests Eagerly
Await Statement Of Gov
ernment Shipping Policy

Representatives of Norwegian mari
tine interests, it was learned yester-
day, are in the American market for
ships. They are anxious to place or
ders to haeeships built for them at
favorable terms. 1t seems unlikely,
however, that they will actually make
agreements to take bottoms from the
yards of this country until the future
policy of the Shipping Board and the
Emergency Fleet Corporation is more
clearly Defined
American interests in control of
some of the larger shipbuilding yards
have already been approached by COM
mercial agents of Norwegian concerns,
and the feeling out process is now said
to be we'll under way. Norway, whose
dependence on the shipping industry is
very great, lost many bottoms during
the days of ruthless submarine sink
ings, and, althougtih her own shipyards
have made up some of the losses, her
tonnage is still far behind what it
would have been if the normal develop
ment had not been interrupted by Ger
m2nyS' underSeaS warfare.
American Ships and the Flag
Although most of the American
yards will be engaged for many
months more working exclusively for
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. some
yards, it is understood, will soon be
ready TO devote q part of their facili-
ties to shipbuilding for private inter-
ests. AL present the government will
only allow ships to be made to fly
under the American flag, and this is
looked upon by Norwegian interests, it
is said, as all obstacle because of the
American requirement for a crew one
third larger than Norway requires and
other restrictions. If the bas are let
down, it was learned in quarters in
bunyers. moderately large orders can
be expected. If rot, the business that
would be placed here will probably be
placed in Canada and England, if the
British government agrees to let ships
made in it's yards fly under foreign
flags.
Private shipping interests through
out the world are looking to the gov
ernment of the leading shipbuildng
countries for guidanc. Until the gov
ernmental attitudes are made clear, the
private interests seem forced to mark
time. and make all their arrangements
tentativ and readjust to change.
Shipping men say that the United
Staes shipyards will probably turn out
between so and so per cent of the
worlds output of tonnage in 1919, es-
tlmatlng the American production next
year at between 100000 and S.O0O,-
900 tons. Some shipyards will be
through with their government orders,
and in from six to nine months, others
will have part Of their facilities free.
Practical shipping men estimate that
in twenty months the total tonnage of
the world will be where it would have
been if there had been no war Thir-
teen million deadweight tons of ships
are now under construction for the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. The rate
OF ship production in the United States
before the war.
Riveters in Demand
Further light on the present short
age in the shipyards of skilled labor
was shed yesterday by statements by
shipping men. The great need is for
erectors, boilers and riveters. The re-
leasing of skilled machinists from the
ammunition factory is expected to
yards than has been able for many
weeks among the recruits. In the Hog
Island yards, where 700 riveting gangs
of four men each are at work, execu-
tives declare that they could better use
1900 gangs of ship filters and riveters
AS a result of improved methods, the
average worker there, it is said. is per-
forming his tasks far more expedi-
tiously than before.