Arklow Shipping continue with yet another series of newbuilds, this time in the form of the G class cargoship Arklow Gem which follows into service only last month of the R class leadship Arklow Racer, writes Jehan Ashmore
The leadship of the five G class series, Arklow Gem will also be another first for the Co. Wicklow shipowner to use the suffix 'G' in the naming theme of these new cargo ships.
Arklow Gem (newbuild Nb.454) as the latest Irish flagged vessel with Arklow as the port of registry, is to be launched transversely into the canal waters at Ferus Smit's Dutch shipyard in Westerbroek. The launch ceremony is to take place next Thursday, 6th April at 10.00hrs.
To recap as for the R class series, there will be a seven ships series to be built by Royal Bodewes at their shipyard in Hoogezand also in the Netherlands.
As for the G-class cargoships, each have a maximized hold volume of 220.000 cft and a carrying capacity over 5,000 deadweight tons, it still falls under the 3,000 gross tons limit.
Arklow Gem is to be propelled by a 1600 kW MaK engine with use of a single-ducted propeller (as seen in above photo) along with the aft/stern section. Such sections are part of the shipyard's modular building process.
The Ferus Smit shipyard near Groningen, has completed previous orders for ASL, the A class of 6 ships and the C class with 10 cargo ships
In addition, the B Class of six ships for Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam.
All these series of cargo ships are among a fleet that operate on short-sea operations trading mostly throughout northern Europe, Scandinavia and into the Mediterranean.
In addition ASL have a deep-sea fleet of bulkers, the twin S-class and a smaller quartet of M class bulkers.
