■ Big 3 inked $50bn, “Order Boom Alone"
South Korea's Big three, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung HI and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, recorded outstanding new order results totalling about overall $50bn in 2011.
However, gap between small-and-medium builders and major yards is getting bigger, as S&M yards being suffered from new order shortage.

■ S. Korea wins back world No.1
South Korea wins back the world first place in new order (in terms of Value/CGT/GT) from China, by concentrating on winning newbuilding high-value ships, such as LNG carrier, very-large containership, offshore plant (drillship, rig, FPSO).

■ World newbuilding delivery biggest ever
World newbuilding delivery recorded the biggest ever, close to 100m gt. Unfortunately(?), however, from next year, delivery is expected to be on a downhill road.

■ Newbuilding price failed to recover
Unlike projected newbuilding price recovery early this year, the price decreased to the level from right after the financial crisis in 2008 and shipbuilders would have lowered profits by low-margin newbuildings.
■ Yards massive restructuring
Many shipbuilders in South Korea seem to undergo the second round restructuring and those from China are to go through massive restructuring/M&A, as well.

■ Ship financing shrinkage
Amid strained ship financing due to Eurozone fiscal crisis, following global financial crisis, many shipbuilders/shipping companies have suffered from financial difficulties.

■ Fuel-efficient ship boom
On the base of tightened-up international environmental regulation, rise in fuel oil price, etc., yards push for development of eco-friendly fuel-efficient vessel.

■ LNG-carrier demand surges
Demand for newbuild LNG-carrier surged by damage on Japanese nuclear power plant, aftermath of the devastating Earthquake, and the US' permits on LNG export.

■ New concept offshore plant 1st ordered as newbuild
Samsung Heavy Industries of South Korea booked LNG-FPSO and Hyundai HI won LNG-FSRU, for the first time as newbuilding in the world.

■ World-first 18,000-teu boxship
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea inked 20 18,000-teu ultra-large boxships.