Shipowners ordered 14.5% more vessels in 2017 as some markets improved.
A total of 1,036 new ships were contracted last year, up from 2016's historic low of 904, according to Clarksons figures.
In 2015, the figure was 1,581.
In tonnage terms, orders surged 78.3% from 2016 at 23.22m cgt.
Bulkers, mega-boxships and bulkers were all in vogue, as well as cruiseships.
