A Dutch-flagged tanker, which docked in Dún Laoghaire Harbour after sailing from Derry, is at the Dublin Bay port to allow engine repairs to be carried out, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The Wisby Wave had departed the Foyle on Tuesday to make its coastal passage through the North Channel and the Irish Sea until arriving at Dún Laoghaire yesterday; see photo. The 7,517-deadweight (dwt) tanker came alongside Carlisle Pier, where it is to remain in port during repairs, which are expected to take approximately three days to complete.
With an Ice Class 1A with Bureau Veritas, the tanker trades in northwest Europe and Scandinavia and was personally observed entering Plymouth, Cornwall, in recent years. It is from this southwest English port that the tanker has sailed to Dublin Port with its related jetties.
The nine-hold tanker is operated by MF Shipping Group, a ship manager based at the vessel's port of registry, Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Among its operations is the tanker segment, managing product and chemical tankers (3,000 to 18,000 dwt), and the company is recognized in Europe for serving the top 10 oil/energy companies.
In addition, the group, which began in 1994, runs multipurpose ships, self-unloaders, a ro-ro vessel, and specialised cement carriers (one named Ireland) of 7,569 dwt and built in 2016 by the Ferus Smit B.V. shipyard.
Wisby Wave was built earlier in 2009 and also by Ferus Smit B.V., which Afloat readers will be familiar with, as this Dutch shipyard has built vessels for Arklow Shipping Ltd., which currently has on order six eco-friendly 11,000 dwt general cargo ships.
As for the Wisby Wave, below are the following principle dimensions.
OAL (overall length): 116.35 m
Length between P.P.: 110.9 m
Beam: 15.11 m
It has a main engine (MAK 8M32C) with 600 rpm and 3,840 kW and delivers a speed of 13.2 knots.
At the stern is mounted a free-fall lifeboat, which is offset to port.
