Orders at Japanese shipyards this August soared by 252% from a year earlier, as shipowners rushed to build ships that comply with the International Maritime Organisation's new standards.

The IMO's goal-based standards, which apply to bulkers and tankers, require wider and thicker timber in the construction of cargo holds. Consequently, the steel weight will be increased correspondingly. The standards take effect in July 2016.

Figures from the Japan Ship Exporters' Association (JSEA) show that its member shipyards received 27 orders totalling 1,557,900 gt in August, up from 10 orders totalling 442,170 gt in August 2014.

JSEA said this August's orders included 18 bulkers: two Handysizes, eight Handymaxes, two Panamaxes, three Capesizes, and three ore carriers. In addition the yards won orders for two pure car carriers, two LNG carriers, and five chemical tankers.

Japanese shipbuilder's are renowned for constructing bulkers and stainless steel chemical tankers.

JSEA member yards exported 14 ships, totalling 625,797 gt, in August, up from 12 ships, representing 476,161 gt, a year earlier.

On 31 August Japanese shipyards had an outstanding orderbook of 699 ships, totalling 33,296,759 gt. At the same time last year the figures were 658 ships and 27,721,791 gt.