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SCMP Reporter

THE Hong Kong-controlled dry-bulk carrier fleet now ranks fourth in the world, behind Greece, Japan and China.

   This is revealed by data in the October edition of Lloyd's World Shipowning Groups, the quarterly directory published jointly by Lloyd's of London Press and Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

   At 241 vessels aggregating 14.49 million deadweight tonnes (dwt), the fleet has grown 4.2 per cent in the past year.

   There has been strong growth in the territory's dry-bulk orderbook, which now stands at 3.25 million dwt, up 40 per cent over the year.

   The Greek-controlled dry-bulk carrier fleet keeps its position ahead of Japan. It has a fleet of 18 million dwt.

   The size of the Greek fleet has grown by 3.5 per cent in the last year, taking it to 1,276 ships of 55.51 million dwt.

   This growth rate is far slower than that of the previous 12 months, when the fleet grew by a massive 37 per cent.

   However, the size of the Greek orderbook for dry-bulk tonnage has risen to 1.18 million dwt, up 13.7 per cent on the year.

   The size of the Japan-controlled dry-bulk carrier fleet has remained much the same as a year ago - showing only an 0.5 per cent rise to 716 ships of 37.41 million dwt.

   However, the Japanese orderbook has increased by 2.28 million dwt - a remarkable 93 per cent - to reach 4.72 million dwt.

   Ranking third in the dry-bulk carrier league is China, whose fleet has grown by 7.6 per cent over the last 12 months to reach 416 ships of 15.77 million dwt. At 1.77 million dwt, its orderbook has not changed.

   The Norwegian dry-bulk fleet ranks fifth but has shrunk 11 per cent in the past 12 months. It is now 232 ships of 12.91 million dwt.

   The Norwegian orderbook, however, has risen by 122 per cent to reach 1.21 million dwt.

   Lloyd's World Shipowning Groups also shows the size and age profile of dry-bulk carrier fleets. As expected, this shows the continuing growth of the older sections of fleets.

   Vessels over 20 years old now represent 20.7 per cent of the world's fleets, compared with 17.4 per cent a year ago.

   The 15-to 19-year-old bracket, however, has fallen from 23.2 to 21.9 per cent, and the 10-to 14-year-old bracket has grown to 24.1 from 20.8 per cent.

   The section of the dry bulk carrier fleet which is aged between five and nine years has shrunk to 17.8 per cent from 24 per cent, while the under-five years old section has grown a little to represent 15.5 per cent of the total fleet from 14.7 per cent.

   The size of the overall dry-bulk carrier orderbook has shown strong growth. It is up 84.49 million dwt or 59.9 per cent over the year to reach 22.55 million dwt.

   The size of the orderbook as a proportion of the dry-bulk carrier fleet has risen to 9.2 per cent, from 6.7 per cent a year ago.

   Lloyd's World Shipowning Groups also contains tables showing the world's top 50 fleets, for all vessel types, in terms of group ownership.

   The tables are dominated by Far Eastern owners.

   Japanese companies Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitusi OSK, Kawasaki Kisen and Navix Line rank first, second, fourth and fifth, respectively.

   The China Ocean Shipping Group (COSCO) holds third place, while the fleet controlled by the Chinese Government holds sixth place.

         Other shipowning groups in the top 10 are, in order, A P Moller, Bergesen, Worldwide Shipping and Shell Royal Dutch Group.

   The Japan-controlled fleet, of all vessel types, is the largest in the world at 2,994 ships of 90.33 million dwt, including the orderbook.

   Japan is followed by Greece at 2,925 vessels of 117.05 million dwt.

   As this table shows, these two fleets are leagues ahead of their nearest rivals, with the US-controlled fleet coming third with 1,392 ships of 61,67 million dwt.



HK dry-bulk fleet grows 4pc