#ports&shipping - As part of the continuing newbuild replacement programme at Arklow Shipping, one of their oldest cargoships has been finally disposed from the fleet, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Wind dating to 2004 was one of a trio of 'W' class 13,000dwt bulkers which along with her sisters were built in South Korea. They were the first newbuilds commissioned by ASL to be ordered outside Europe.

The former Irish flagged 13,988dwt bulker after a career spanning more than 12 years has been sold to Dutch interests and renamed Longwave. At the stern of the 136m bulker the port of registry is now that of Schoonhoven. 

Afloat previously reported in January on the fate of sisters. Arklow Wave dating earlier to her sisters having been launched in 2003 was sold to landlocked owners in Switzerland and renamed NACC Toronto.  As for Arklow Wave this led to the bulker'ss departure from Europe having been acquired by Canadian interests and trading as Florence Spirit.

Longwave is currently underway on passage in the Mediterranean between Itea, Greece and Cueta, the Spanish enclave in north Africa.