Clarkson reveals lowest orderbook since June 2007

New research from UK-based Clarkson Research Services show that the world newbuild orderbook comprised 8,779 vessels (164.7 million CGT), the lowest since June 2007.

Since the start of 2009, orders for gas tankers have fallen by 28% while, in other sectors, tanker orders are down 21%, container orders have fallen 19% and there has been an eight percent dip in the number of orders for bulk carriers.

Clarkson?s report showed that the average DWT per vessel order was, however, slightly up from 56,689DWT in 2008 to 59,773DWT this year.

New orders for the month of August 2009 amounted to 6.132 million DWT which includes twelve VLCCs ordered at Chinese yards.