This month ASN are due delivery of the 4,700 gross tonnes Arklow Bridge, the second 'B' class newbuild was also built by the Dutch company of Bodewes Shipyards B.V. She is the fifth vessel to carry this name since Arklow Shipping was founded in 1966.

The Arklow Bridge is registered in St. John's the capital of the Caribbean island of Antigua where she will be flagged. Antigua became an associated state of the Commonwealth until it was disassociated from Britain 30 years ago.

Her sister Arklow Brook entered service this year and is designed with two holds with a total (grain and bale) capacity of 9473.1m3 or an equivalent of 33,4524 ft3.

For cargo-separation the holds can be sub-divided by a portable bulkhead in up to 8 positions. In addition to carrying agricultural-based cargoes, the 116m (OA) overall long vessel can handle 177 (TEU) containers in the hold and another 88 can be stowed on top of the hold's hatch covers. Both the holds are fitted with dehumidifier's.

The power-plant is derived from a MaK 6M32C 2999kW main engine with a Renk gearbox and Berg controllable pitch propeller that provides around 12 knots.

With the entry of Arklow Bridge, the combined fleet is over 40 ships that trade in the north-west of Europe and the Mediterranean. For further vessel statistics of the sisters click here and for a photo of the new vessel click this link.

Asides the Rotterdam based operation of ASN, the Irish side of the company is the largest indigenous owned shipping company in terms of Irish-flagged and registered tonnage. Arklow is not only the headquarter's of ASL but the homeport is also where the vessels are registered.

The latest newbuild for the Arklow Shipping Ltd (ASL) fleet, Arklow Meadow is due to depart from the Mokpo Shipyard Corporation, South Korea in three weeks, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 136m dry-cargo vessel will seek a cargo for the delivery voyage from the Far-Eastern shipyard to Europe.

Arklow Meadow represents the fourth in a series of six newbuilds ordered, with lead-ship Arklow Manor entering service in 2009. The following newbuilds, Arklow Marsh and Arklow Mill where delivered from the shipyard to her owners during 2010.

All the 'M'-class newbuilds are 14,000 tonnes and have four-holds with a total grain capacity of over 18,000 cubic square-metres.The vessels are powered by a MaK 6M 43C main engine which has a 5,400KW capacity through a Jake reduction gear-box and fitted to a Rolls Royce controllable pitch propeller.

ASL operate a modern fleet of dry-cargo short-sea traders and bulkers throughout Europe, Scandinavia and to the Mediterranean Sea using tonnage varying in size from 3,000-14,000 tonnes. Most to the vessels are of a singledeck, box hold design and some are fitted for container stowage. The majority of cargoes are grain, general dry-bulk and bulk commodities including those classified under IMO regulations.

ASL was established in 1966 by several family ship-owning companies and has progressed to become one of Ireland's leading indigenous ship-operators. The company has its headquarters alongside the banks of the River Avoca, Arklow in addition a management team also based in the Netherlands. Most of the 39 strong fleet are registered in the Co. Wicklow port, flying the Irish tricolour while the rest of the fleet are under the Dutch flag and registered at Rotterdam and Zaandam.