#ShipRudder- A German-owned containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that is understood to have got into difficulties due to rudder problems along Arklow Bank in mid-January, currently remains in a Dublin dry-dock, writes Jehan Ashmore.
An initial tow of the Arslan II was carried out by a tug to Dublin Bay from where a Dublin Port Company tug Shackleton joined to assist towing the 260TEU container capacity vessel to the Coal Quay. Arsalan II was subsequently moved into the No.2 dry-dock facility of Dublin Graving Docks Ltd.
Arslan II was a familiar trader in the Irish Sea for more than two decades and moreso under her previous name of Coastal Isle until November 2013. She had operated Peel Ports Group subsidiary Coastal Container Line services that included the Dublin (MTL Terminal)–Liverpool route.
Last summer the Peel Ports Group carried out restructuring of operations that saw Coastal Container Line merged into BG Freight Line's Irish Sea and short-sea continental route network.
A sister, Coastal Deniz as previously reported on Afloat.ie continues to run for Peel Port Group's 'green' inland waterway shuttle service between Liverpool (Seaforth Container Terminal) and Manchester (Irlam Container Terminal) using the 58km/36-mile long Manchester Ship Canal.
