More than four in 10 ships scheduled to be handed over to owners in 2018 are still at shipyards.
Figures from VesselsValue (VV) show 44% of deliveries have not yet taken place.
The company said hand-overs typically slow down towards the end of the year.
"If shipowners wait a few weeks, allowing the delivery to slip into the new year, the vessel is considered a whole year younger.
