Here's something that might surprise you: The U.S. is the world's sixth largest shipbuilder of tankers. The current U.S. orderbook includes 11 tankers, 10 product tankers and one crude carrier, with a total deadweight of 645,000. That's according to data published by the UK's SSY Consultancy & Research Ltd. Statistics compiled by shipbuilding guru Tim Colton of Maritime Business Strategies includes a twelfth tanker, a 140,000 dwt crude carrier for Polar Tankers on order at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations, New Orleans, La. Still, the U.S. poses no threat to Korea, Japan or China (rounding out the top five are Croatia and Russia). All of the tankers on order at U.S. shipyards are for the domestic Jones Act trade.
展开▼
