New-York tribune., 1921-06-15
British Claim
l'Their Shipping
/ Has Advantage
Admit, However, That i'm a
Number of Instances the
II. s. Merchant Marine
Holds the Superiority
American Vessels Newer
Lead in Oil Fuel Burners
and 1ankers: Are Behind
in Economical Operation

The American merchant feet makes
favorable showing in number OF
particulars in comparison of our
ships with the British tonnage just
made from the British Viewpoint.
In addition to those troubles which
confront the British ship owner, sach
IS the high price and shortage of coal,
the cost Of repairs and the wages bill,
The Syren and Shipping points out,
there "is ever looming in the back
ground the menace of that 12,5o0, 900
gross tons of American shipping.
'This tonnage" it is added, sis exclu-
sive of vessels on the Great Lakes, and
the capacity for competition is in
creased by the fact that while they
constitute 24.13 per cent Of the worlds
steam and motor vessels. we can boast
only 1s,llo,0o0 tons, or $500 per cent.
Time was when British tonnage was
far more convincingly in excess of
that of the United States.
Average L. S. Ship Larger
But while it is no use deploring the
sscendancy of American shipping, it is
rot altogether Improbable to compare
it with ours. At the end of June, 1920,
the average size of our steam and mo-
tor vessels over 100 tons gross was
1850 tons, against an average of
2,0S3 for the wonId and 3,546 for the
United States"
sFigures given to show the holdings
of various sizes of ships by the two
countries indicate that the United
States is especially strong in vessels
between 5000 and 1000 gross tons,
their number, in fact. forming So per
Of ship this country has 3,143, 900 tons,
or almost twice the British total of
1868 900 tons
In ships of 5000 tons and over.
however, the British have nearly 81 per
cent of the worlds total number, ag-
gregating 3,660,oo0 tons. as compared
with Americas 1856, 900 tons, or 20.7
per cent.
British Lead in Speed
In speed, it is declared. the advan-
tage is overwhelmingly in Britain's
favor, as British ships of twelve knots
and over number 1.412, or ST 12 per cent
Of the worlds total of 2,472, against
Americas 332, and percentage of
l343.
If we turn to the question of oil
rs. coal as steam raiser" it is added,
whatever advantages attach to the
use of the former are enjoyed to a
much greater extent by the American
mercantile marine than the British.
American vessels fitted to burn fuel
oil aggregate close upon 1000, 900 tons,
s.-,f Ia III,
100000 mark. OF vessels fitted with
internal combustion engines, there
were close upon 100000 tons under the
British flag and about 5000 tons less
under the American.
at will come as a surprise to many
to learn that the United States is
ahead of us in the matter of ownership
of vessels fitted to carry petroleum in
bulk. the figures being $50 ships of
l8l6,000 tons, against our 292 ships of
l278,000 tons. These totals have, how
ever, advanced in each case, for at the
beginning of the present year there
were sixtyfour tankers of 422 900 tons
building in the United Kingdom and
lightweight of 637 900 tons in the
United States. America is thus max
ing good use of the advantages which
she possesses as an oil-producing
country and as near neighbor to an
supply
American Tonnage Newer
1t is pointed out that Americas feet
is largely composed of new tonnage,
but that Great Britain has 1869 yes
sells of 4,222,000 tons built between
1911 and 1915 and about 1000 built
since, aggregating about $500 900 tons.
I'm attempting to institute any com
parlson between the potential power of
the rival fleets" it is declared, sit
must not be forgotten that the average
British steamer is commercially
sounder proposition than her American
competitor She costs less in actual
running expenses and, generally speak
ing, the American ship is likely to cost
more for upkeep and repairs. Mass
building, too, has not increased the
competitive power of the American
merchant fleet. The British owner spe-
eializes in type and size, and when he
orders a ship has her built to meet
the requirements ofsthe trade on which
she will be run. This all makes for
eonstancy of employment and eco
nomical working
Summing up, the British publication
declares that British shipping is bet
ter fitted to meet the worlds demands
than American. In addition, decided
advantages are claimed for the British
heet in long experience in ship man
agement
In this department" it is added,
America has lot to learn, and from
what We have seen so far she is learn
ing it but slowly. Thus, it is quite un-
deIstandable that the British ship owner
has no serious misgivings on account
OF the recent enormous additions to
the American mercantile marine, pro-
vlded, of course, that there is no un
lair interference with his enterprises"
Fire Record