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The world fleet, breaking for the first time the
1 billion deadweight tons (dwt) mark, expanded
by an impressive 8.6 per cent and reached 1.04
billion dwt based on world merchant fleet
strength tallied beginning 2007.
Although the Malaysian fleet expanded during the
year under review, Malaysia slipped three points
to 24th position in the global ranking on
account of faster growth of national fleets of
other countries.
Malaysia’s fleet, which was ranked in 21st
position at the beginning of 2006, totaled 6.7
million dwt at the beginning of 2007, according
to compilations by the UNCTAD Maritime review.
Despite the slipping, Malaysia is ranked ahead
of major developed maritime nations like Sweden,
Cyprus, Australia, Canada and France.
Malaysia lost its lead to Netherlands (8.75
million dwt), United Arab Emirates (6.9 million
dwt) and Indonesia (6.8 million dwt).
Given recent spate of orders by Malaysian
shipowners, Malaysia’s ranking and fleet
strength is expected to improve in the years
ahead.
Recent investments by local shipping lines are
estimated at about RM6 billion in 2006/2007
financial period.
A major national fleet expansion is especially
taking place in the petroleum and gas tankers
sector.
Among the ship owners ahead with their expansion
drive in the offshore shipping includes Bumi
Armada Bhd, Scomi Marine Bhd, ALAM Maritim
Resources Bhd, Petra Perdana Bhd.
In the tanker sector, MISC Bhd, Gagasan Carriers
Sdn Bhd, Global Carrier Bhd, Malaysia Bulk
Carrier Bhd, Nepline Berhad and Swee Joo
Shipping have placed orders for more ships,
including Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
According to the UNCTAD Review, developed
countries controlled 65.9 per cent of the world
total, with developing countries and economies
in transition controlling 31.2 per cent and 2.9
per cent, respectively highlights the recently
released review of Maritime Transport 2007.
The Review of Maritime Transport 2007 noted that
Greece continued with the largest controlled
fleet, totaling 170.2 million dwt and 3,084
ships, followed by Japan (147.5 million dwt and
3,330 ships), Germany (85.0 million dwt and
2,964 ships), China (70.4 million dwt and 3,184
ships) and Norway (48.7 million dwt and 1,810
ships). Together, those five countries have a
market share of 53.3 per cent.
Norway replaced the United States as the country
with the fifth largest controlled fleet,
reaching a total of 48.7 million dwt. Less than
4 per cent of this fleet uses the first
Norwegian registry and 25 per cent of it is
registered in the Norwegian International
Register (NIS). |
