Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-16
MERCHANT SHIP PLAN
FAVORED BY BOARD
Completion of Program and Fur
ther Construction Of Vessels
Urged in Report to
Congress.

tIOn program rs IL now se'iho' i'ioH'. my,
to meet the coming of peace and still
further extensions of shipbuilding is
recommended by the United states
Shipping Board in its second annual
renort TO Congress. made public yester-
day The question of a permanent
merchant marine program Is left for
future determination, the board lndicat-
ing that it will have suggestions regard
ing both development and operation at
tho conclusion of Investigations now
in progress
Describing the tremendous fleet now
operated by the government, the report
shows how enemy tonnage was secured
not only by taking over vessels interned
in United States harbors, but by pur-
chasing and chartering from other nations
which likewise had seized German and
Austrian ships. Cuba, China, Siam,
Brazil, Uruguay and Peru all aided the
United States and the Allies in this
regard. The cost Of repairing the Ger
man and Austrian vessels amounted
to approximately S1l 1874 $50 20.
HAS 455 NEW SHIPS.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation
of the board owned on November p,
according to the report, a total OF t55
new ships, of 2,64S, ,S92 deadweight
tons; 80 former German vessels OF 343,-
2O6 deadweight tons; six fomer Aus
trian vessels aggregating 35 ,262 dead
weight tons; and SO other ships OF 49,,
24S tons.
OF the 81 Dutch vessels taken over
under Presidential proclamation, 81, Of
236 $40 deadwcight tons, We're managed
by the Shipping Board and the Others
by the Navy. There were 32S foreign
ships of ,366 ,361 deadweight tons under
charter to the board on this date and
$50 American ships of 2,910, 766 dead
weight tons under requlsltion, making
total feet of 1856 vessels aggregatlng
7,49S ,075 dcadweight tons owned, manag-
ed or chartered by the shipping Board.
With regard to the req,Hsltioning
of American tonnage, the. report says.
Perhaps no phase of the Shipping
Boards work has been more difficult
to adjust fairly and satisfactorily than
that involved IN the requisitIomng OF
ships for use. Nevert heless, most owners
have co-operated with excellent split.
YEARS CONTRACTS FOR CRAFT.
Contracts and commitments of the
Emergency Fleet Corpor ton for tho
construction of ships made during the
year, provided for ,296 steel cargo ships,
of S,S77, COS deadweight tons; 50 steel
tankers of 737, 900 dcadweight tons
Of steel troop ships of 7S7 900 lightweight
tons; two steel hospital ships of 10000
deadweight tons; four steel refrigerator
ships of $500 deadweight tons; 104
ocean-going steel tugs and eight steel
harbor tugs: and 10 steel rarges. of
"a 800 deadweight tons.
The wood and composite ship contracts
called for ls1 complete wood ships of
7O7 500 deadweight tons; $40 hulls,
of Sal 900 deadweight tons l40 harges
Of $50. 500 deadweight tons; l62 wood
tugs: and b composite ships, Of ll6,
90 dcadweight tons
From the time Of its organization up
to August 81 1918, SAYS the report,
the corporation had negotiated 495
contracts aggregating , .29S vessels, with
a totoal of 14.l1q, 1870 deadweight tons,
involving an estimated cost Of S2,319,-
2l620i
500 KEELS LAID IN YEAR.
Dealing with the steel ship program
the report states that efforts of the steel
ship construction division have been
devoted to accelerating the cOnstruc-
ton of ships, obtaining ships suitable
for war purposes, Importing the quality
OF new construction, and obtaining
ships at reasonable prices. During the
wear ending August 81, 500 keels were
laid, 35S ships launched, and 2S7 ships
of 100000 deatwelght tons completed
The report declares that materially
better accomplishment IS confidently
expected during the coming year and
that gratifying progress along technical
lines was made, particularly IN the
sunplihcation and improvement of ships
and Standardization OF the many fittings
required.
WOODEN CONSTRUCTION CHEAPER
With regard to the wood ship pro
gram, the report says the board has
recognized that more CAREFUL attention
cho.ttl no rrtx1o to chfTS nf tarr
and after investigation has decided to rec
Ommend that efforts be concentrat ed
upon the construction OF a 5,000-tOn
hush-deck wood ship, which would be as
strong rs the 5, 3,500-ton types now being
built, and which could be produced Mt 3
saving OF Approximately $50 per ton.
At the present time, 10 types of wood
ships of $500, 1000 and 5000 dead
weight tons are being turned out.
Since August ] wood ship production
has averaged at least one complete ready
for-servlce wood steamship per calendar
day and the report declares that this
average viii increase
CONCRETE BOATS LESS EFFICIENT.
Concrete ship construction has been
limited the report states. because this
type of vessel Is admittedly less efficient
than the steel ship as a cargo carrier and
because the present hull-producing capaci-
ty of the country In steel and wooden
ships is In excess of the producing capacity
of marine engine makers and machinery
for operating concrete ships could not be
made available. However, contracts for
construction of five government-owned
shipyards for concrete construction have
been signed and work begun, and the
present construction program provides
for 50 concrete tankers and cargo ships
of 900 tons, three cargo ships of $500
tons and one czargo ship Of 5000 tons
In addition, plans have been prepared
for $500 ton deadweight concrete
schooner coal barge and bids asked #
being intended to build25 of these
During the fiscal year ending June 80
III American vessels of "a, 740 deadweight
tons were transferred to foreign registry,
permits being granted by the board when
special circumstances indicated that the
change would not injure the national
interest During the same period foreign
built vessels placed under American regis
Try numbered IS, Of 545 ,e95 dca dweight
tons, not including vessels of Dutch regis
try taken over by the President.
PLANS FOR NEW VESSELS.
Permits for the construction of 295
vessels Of 437 09O deadweight tons for