In May 2012, overall 29 offshore-related vessels/units were invested - four semi-submersible drilling rigs, two drillships, three jack-up rigs, four FPSO conversion and 13+3 offshore supply vessels.
According to Eworldship, during the same month, there were orders for eight boxships, 20+16 gas carriers, 37+6 bulkers, 27+2 tankers, 4+2 PCTCs, 10+10 livestock carriers, 10+1 other vessels.
South Korea, China and Japan inked most of the orders. Particularly, offshore facilities and high-value vessels took the largest proportion of Korean new orders.
Chinese shipbuilders' orders still concentrated on bulkers and they have started to work hard to bag newbuilding high-value vessels. In May, China penned 31 bulkers of a total of 43 vessels ordered in the world, while it contracted three drilling platforms, six gas carriers, four tankers.
Meanwhile, Korea mostly contracted for offshore-related or high-value vessels, during the same month. Of total of 29 orders, 12+3 vessels/units are from offshore segment, mostly high-value drilling rigs. Also, Korea won 30 gas carriers, 16 tankers, 4+2 PCTCs and 10+10 livestock carriers.
Japanese shipyards seem to eye on eco-friendly bulkers and tankers, rather than offshore segment. Japan sealed orders.