Shipbroker Clarksons says Europe’s orderbook was worth $65.7bn as of 1 September, almost 30% of the $218bn yard tally globally.
But at a time of generally declining global orderbooks, high-value cruiseship orders on which Europe relies heavily are down 38% on a bumper 2017. Offshore contracts have fallen by 80%.
Overall, however, “Europe isn’t doing that badly,” says Kjersti Kleven, chairwoman of shipbuilding association SEA Europe.
