Japan makes comeback

Japan`s performance was a marked increase on the three orders secured in January and five in February, butstill leaves the annual total at 129 vessels (6.5 million gross against 263 (115 million gross) for the previous financial year.

Figures from Lloyds` Register indicate that at the end of 1998, Korea`s orderbook stood at 20.3 million gross, just edging ahead of Japan at 19.7 million gross. Between the two, Japan and Korea share just under 70 per cent of the world orderbook which fell by less than one per cent to finish the year at 57.4 million.