Gulf Coast shipyards working off backlog... then what?

摘要

Much of the maritime world may be experiencing the painful slowdown of business caused by a worldwide recession, but American shipyards that build inland river tow-boats, tugboats, barges and assorted workboats along the Gulf Coast are forging ahead like it was still the boom years. The boom time is expected to last another year - maybe two - at least until those shipyards have worked off their backlog of contracts and whatever new orders come dribbling in. After that, it's anyone's guess. The effects of the recession may eventually catch up with some of them.rnFor 2009 at least, everything is pretty much known. Contracts are set and deliveries will follow. Few if any of these contracts have been cancelled, although many companies in the inland river world arernexperiencing difficulties.rnAccording to the national shipyard construction record kept by Tim Colton of Maritime Business Strategies and Marine Log, roughly 130 new tugs and towboats are projected to be delivered in 2009. That would be down a bit from the estimated 150 boats delivered in 2008.