经济学人298:亚洲造船厂 越深越好

　　Business
商业报道
Asian shipyards
亚洲造船厂
The deeper the better
越深越好
Korean and Singaporean yards have adapted well to China's challenge
韩国、新加坡的造船业对来自中国的挑战应付自如
PLENTY of behemoths are being welded into shape in South Korea's shipyards at the moment.
目前，韩国造船厂里大量大型船只已成型。
2_副本.jpgClustered around the southern city of Busan, the big three yards—Samsung Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine¹ Engineering, and Hyundai Heavy Industries—are churning out the world's biggest container ships, 400 metres long; an oil barge² whose length, at about 460 metres, or 1,462 feet, is almost half the height of Scafell Pike, England's tallest mountain;
聚集在南部釜山市的三大造船厂—三星重工集团、大宇造船和海洋工程有限公司以及现代重工集团—正大量建造世界最大的集装箱货船，其长达400米。油驳大约长460米或1462英尺，几乎是英国最高山斯科菲峰的一半高。
and some of the largest oil rigs yet built.
一些最大的石油钻塔还未建成。
But size isn't everything.
但是型号并非全部。
Just as impressive, and more important commercially, are four ultra deepwater drill-ships coming off the line at Samsung Heavy Industries.
同样惊人，并且在商业性方面更为重要的是由三星重工业生产的4大超级深海钻井船。
Commissioned by a Danish shipping³ giant, Maersk, the first one has just been christened: Viking, appropriately enough.
在丹麦轮船巨头Maersk的授权下，第一艘船命名为Viking再适合不过了。
Described by a Maersk engineer as giant Black & Deckers, these ships are designed for work in the deepest of waters, such as in the Gulf⁴ of Mexico.
正如Maersk的一位工程师所描述的巨大的黑色甲板，这些船是用来在海洋最深处工作，例如墨西哥湾。
As inland and coastal⁵ wells run dry after decades of exploitation, oil firms are being forced farther out to sea, and ships like Viking, which will be used by Exxon Mobil, are designed to meet their requirements.
随着几十年的不断开采，内陆以及沿海的油井已经快枯竭。石油公司不得不迈向海洋更深处。并且，像Viking这一批船，它们的制造就是为了满足埃克森美孚这样的顾客的需求。
Viking can operate in 3,000 metres of water, and then drill down through another 12,000 metres of earth—more than the height of Mount Everest.
Viking能在深入水下3000米工作，然后再向下挖12,000米—深度比珠穆朗玛峰还高。
The centrepiece of the vessel⁶ is the derrick, which is over 60 metres high.
船的中心是高达60余米的油井架吊杆，
But the most advanced bits of kit⁷ are probably the six thruster engines.
但是装置中最先进的部分要数6部推力器引擎。
The engineers claim that they can keep the ship steady and drilling even in waves of up to 9 metres.
工程师们说，这些引擎能够让Viking高达9米的巨浪中保持平稳并继续工作。
Strong technical skills have proved to be the salvation⁸ of Korean shipyards.
强有力的专门技能来自于韩国造船厂。
Only a decade or so ago most analysts¹⁰ were assuming that China's heavily subsidised yards would soon take much if not all of South Korea's share of the world shipbuilding market, just as South Korean yards had wiped out much of Europe's capacity a generation before.
大约10年前，大多分析家设想，中国受极大补贴的造船厂，如果不能占据韩国在世界船只建造市场的全部份额，那么至少也得大部分，就如上一年代韩国造船行业一扫欧洲大部分国家造船业一样。
But it has not worked out like that.
但是中国不及韩国当年。
It is true that China now gets more orders in terms of gross tonnage, but in the year to July 2013 South Korea produced 76.2% more than China by dollar value.
的确，现在中国就总吨数而言，是接到更多订单，但是按美元来算总价值，到今年7月，韩国的生产值比中国多76.2%。
The Koreans, and their Singaporean counterparts, are making money in a highly competitive market by focusing on complex vessels¹¹ like Viking, often for the offshore¹² market.
韩国，以及和它相当的新加坡，正通过制造出像Viking这样的复杂型船只在竞争激烈的市场里获利，并且他们的专注点在海外市场。
China has failed to break out of the basic bulk-carrier market, where ships may cost as little as 30m.
中国没能突破制造仅值3000万美元的基本散装货船。
As a result it is China's yards that are struggling, confined to a part of the market that is plagued by overcapacity, whereas Korean and Singaporean order books are almost full. Maersk reckons the market for offshore rigs and drill-ships is now worth 44 billion a year.
结果就是，中国造船业不停地挣扎，被限制在了一个有产能过剩麻烦的市场之中。而韩国跟新加坡的订单，几乎全满。
Sokje Lee, an analyst⁹ at J.P. Morgan in Seoul, explains that shipbuilding is nowadays a design and quality business rather than a labour-driven one,
首尔J.P摩根的一位分析家Sokie李解释道，如今的造船讲求的是设计和质量，而不仅仅是靠劳力。
and South Korean firms, once a lower-cost alternative to their European rivals, have spent heavily and wisely in becoming more technically¹³ sophisticated.
韩国企业，相对于他们的欧洲对手而言，也曾是一个低耗备胎，但他们花费了大量人力物力变成今天的技术精密型。
Each of the big Korean yards has thousands of in-house designers and engineers.
每一家大型韩国造船厂都有成千上万的内部设计师和工程师。
This has made them world leaders in the new generation of fuel-efficient, cheap-to-run eco ships.
正是这一点使得他们成为新一代造船业的世界级领军人物，他们的船，能源高效，操作实惠。
China's yards have focused instead on offering customers low prices and irresistible¹⁴ financing deals.
而中国的造船业关注点在给消费者提供低价船以及难以抵抗的金融交易。
Sometimes they demand as little as 10% of the cost on signing a contract, leaving the other 90% until delivery.
有时，他们在签订协议时仅仅只需10%的费用，剩下的90%仍处于交付状态。
Yet this ruthless competitiveness has not won them a decent share of the lucrative¹⁵ offshore market.
但是这种极其可怕的竞争力并没有为他们在有利可图的海外市场赢得可观的份额。
Here quality, efficiency and sticking to delivery dates are at a premium¹⁶, and Chinese yards still score poorly on all counts.
在现在市场中，质量，效率以及严格遵守交货时间处于最优先位置，而中国企业在这些方面仍然做得不够。
A recent report from CLSA, a stockbroker¹⁷, concludes that China is still far behind the Koreans in the market for offshore vessels.
证券投资机构CLSA最近的一份报告总结了，在海外造船市场，中国远远落后于韩国。
Even worse, China will soon lose much of its advantage on price.
更糟的是，中国很快会失去它的价格优势。
CLSA estimates that labour costs in its yards are rising by 10-15% a year, while productivity remains¹⁸ low.
CLSA估测，在该行业，中国的劳力费用每年上涨10%-15%，但是生产力仍持低。
Singapore's two main yards, Keppel and SembCorp Marine, have also invested heavily in quality and efficiency.
同样，新加坡主要的两家造船企业，吉宝和胜科海事也在质量跟效率方面投入大量资金。
They specialise more in deep-sea rigs than in drill-ships and carriers.
相比钻井船和货船，他们更专长于深海钻机。
Keppel, the bigger of the two, is building a record 20 such monsters this year; next year it will deliver the first of three giant, 600m jack-up rigs.
吉宝的规模比胜科更大。今年吉宝预备制造20艘这样的巨型船，明年将交付三个中的第一个，即值6亿美元的自升式钻井。
Time is money
时间就是金钱
The Singaporeans are also good at building things on time, which is vital in an industry where late delivery can cost the operators of rigs and drill-ships over 500,000 a day.
另外，新加坡造船企业还拥有按时完成制造的有点，这对于拖延交货一天就得多花50万在钻机和钻井船操作上的企业来说，尤为重要。
Over the past five years, rigs ordered from Keppel and SembCorp were, on average, delivered ahead of schedule, whereas Chinese yards delivered 50-250 days late, says IHS Petrodata, a research firm.
一家研究公司HIS揭示，在过去的5年中，吉宝和胜科的钻机一般都是在规定时间前交付的，而中国企业，比规定时间晚50-250天。
The only cloud on the horizon for the Koreans and Singaporeans might be fracking.
韩国和新加坡目前的唯一问题可能是液压破裂法。
The output of tight oil from onshore shale¹⁹ beds has soared in the past few years, especially in America, and could one day reduce the demand for expensive deep-sea rigs and vessels.
沿海页岩层密致油的产量在过去的几年中飞增，尤其是在美国，这种油很有肯在某天就降低了昂贵深海钻机和钻井船的需求量。
Indeed, Mr Lee even suggests that the offshore business might already have peaked.
诚然，李先生暗示，海外造船业可能达到了顶峰。
But Keppel, for one, is not too worried.
但是吉宝并不是很担心。
The demand for oil has so far kept rising; and as long as the crude price is above 80 a barrel, the big oil firms will have the money and the incentive²⁰ to keep developing deepwater fields, and thus to keep ordering its rigs.
一来，油量的需求持续增长，只要每桶原油价格仍在80刀以上，大型的石油公司就有资金以及动力继续开发深海领域，因此，对钻机仍有需求。
1.adapt to 变得习惯于…， 使适应于， 能应付
So how do you adapt to these constants?
那么你如何适应这几个常量呢？
Keeping trade going will therefore help countries adapt to climate change.
保持贸易持续进行将会因此而帮助国家适应气候变化。
2.come off 成功；举行；表现
In the heat of battle, which banks have come off best?
在战场的中心，那些银行会离开最佳的位置呢？
If you come off as too needy²¹ you'll lose her.
如果你表现的太需要她你就会失去她。
3.such as 例如；譬如；诸如
What about future steps such as euro bonds?
诸如欧元联盟之类的未来计划怎样？
Imaginary problems such as these are usually hiding real ones.
像这样的臆想的问题通常隐藏真实性的。
4.design to 用于设计
We can use design to make a website unique and more memorable²².
我们能用设计使一个网站独一无二且更易记住。
Note:marriott has recently changed their design to be more like westin.
注：marriott近期将他们的设计改得更类似于westin的方式。

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

3 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

6 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

7 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

8 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

13 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

14 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

15 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

16 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

17 stockbroker   

n.股票（或证券），经纪人（或机构）

参考例句：

• The main business of stockbroker is to help clients buy and sell shares.股票经纪人的主要业务是帮客户买卖股票。
• My stockbroker manages my portfolio for me.我的证券经纪人替我管理投资组合。

18 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

19 shale   

n.页岩，泥板岩

参考例句：

• We can extract oil from shale.我们可以从页岩中提取石油。
• Most of the rock in this mountain is shale.这座山上大部分的岩石都是页岩。

20 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

21 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

22 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。