2000 has been Good for Norwegian Shipbuilders

Norway's shipyards are set to complete a great year having already secured contracts worth almost NOK 14 billion. This is according to a survey by the Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries (TBL). The same figure for the whole of last year was only NOK 8.7 billion and barely NOK 4 billion in 1998. A record high of NOK 15.7 billion was set in 1997, but this was largely due to contracts having been brought forward ahead of a scheduled reduction in state support for shipyards from 1 January 1998.

Knut Axelsen, head of TBL's Ship division, says that it is the offshore sector that has taken off this year, with shipyards weighted toward the manufacture of supply and offshore vessels doing best. Norwegian shipyards have also won contracts for some ferries and fishing boats while there has been little activity for building of chemical and passenger ships.There are expectations that the offshore building activity to level out next year. However, since large international shipping companies are planning to modernise their fleets, demand for new ships should remain fairly high.