#10newShips – Footage above of Arklow Shipping's newest newbuild Arklow Vale shows the foreship section been transported outside from a Dutch shipbuilder's hall, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Arklow Vale represents the first of 10 in a next generation of 5,150dwt newbuild series of general cargo traders for Arklow Shipping.
The distinctive design of the leadship's (yard No. 721) foreship section was completed at the Bodewes Shipyard in Hoogezard.
Dutch company, heavy-lift specialists Mammoet towed the newbuild module section on trailers along the quayside. The exercise carried out last month was so to join this module into position with the newbuild's aft section.
As reported on Afloat, Arklow Vale represents a new generation of newbuilds for ASL which recently disposed of an aging trio of tonnage, the 'V' class sisters. The final sister Arklow Venture was sold and renamed SP Venture earlier this month during a dry-docking in Dublin Port.
The newbuild name of Arklow Vale continues the tradition of vessels with 'V' names. Albeit none of the predecessors had this name, however an earlier 'Vale' from an earlier class of newbuilds was in service between 1989 and 2004.
This Vale had featured a telescopic bridge, the first to appear in any series built for the ASL fleet when launched from Schiffswerft Hugo Peters GmBh of Wewelsfleth.
Currently ASL have a fleet of 44 dry-cargo vessels which are Irish and Dutch flagged. They range from the 'R' class of 4,933dwt to the largest of the 'S' class of 34,905dwt.
