The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-17
FIFTH OF TONNAGE
HAS BEEN TIED UP
Shipping Board Steamers Are Finding
Hard Work Getting carsoes.

(By George r.. E5annIna.)
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 16.-with
one-nfth OF the total tonnage OF the
United --States Shipping Board tied up
az The wharves for lack OF cargoes and
with more ships being tied up every
day owing 20 the depression in foreign
commerce, officials OF the board cannot
see the end in sight. They are expect
ing. however. that some Improvement
win be noticeable by April or May.
The depression in shipping circles
which commenced TO be serious last
September, is not confined to American
vessels or American commerce, but has
become a very serious problem for the
merchant marine OF England. Japan,
Norway and other maritime countries.
While hoping that some Improvement
viii be shown in the shipping situation
with the usual spring opening up Of for
eign trade In April and May, shipping
board officials do not expect material
Improvement unit" the present enormous
disparity in foreign exchange is re-
moved.
or the total Of 1880 steel vessels
owned by the shipping board. with
lightweight tonnage Of 9.6O5,ls9 tons,
1.172 with S.342.716 tons were active ON
January ]. 1921, and 20S ships with l.
262.4s3 lightweight tons We're tied up.
The smaller percentage in tonnage Wien
compared with the percentage cf yes
sells indicates that the majority 70 the
idle ships must be of small tonnage.
Almost all the shipping boards wood
and composition tonnage is tied up. OF
the boards PSI wood and composition
ships $50 were inactive and only Fl ac-
tive, on January !. The boards total
wood tonnage is b045,9s6 tons, of which
s5s.34S is now tied up and S7,6SS tons
active.
The shipping board has eight concrete
ships with lightweight tonnage OF rs,
$50. or these four OF 21,902 are active
and the other four with 17,o7S are in
active.
or the boards total of 1869 vessels
with 10 600, 1856 tons, 1877 with s, ASP, 256
were active on January 1, and 472 with
2,237. 800 tons we're tied up.
Great Britain has about TOO vessels tied
up while Norway and Japan are in no
better shape, It is learned unofficially.
The private owners OF American ships
are In slightly better shape than the
shipping board II is said, so far as mum
Der Of ships active Is concerned, but I'm
worse condition financially as many of
them are operating at a loss, something
the shipping board has done its best to
guard against
The total port clearances for the United
States In December showed that ap-
proxlmately 65 percent OF the tonnage
was carried by foreign ships and S5 by
American ships, OF which shipping board
vessels carried about II percent and
private American ships the other Is
percent.
Charter rates have taken such a drop
in the last four months that private
owners OF many American ships are OPP
Grating their vessels at a loss in order TO
keep their ships moving and their or
ganizations intact, shipping board Of |
ncials declare.
The South American countries will
commence moving their exports and ex-
portations from the United States in
April or May. shipping board officials |
expect, and the commerce viii likely |
continue then until the end or Septem- !
Der. The records or the shipping board |