#MaidenCall – Arklow Vale made her maiden call to Dublin Port yesterday, the newbuild is the leadship of 10 general cargoships of the Royal Bodewes 5,100dwt Trader Series built to the design of the Dutch yard, writes Jehan Ashmore.

At almost 87m in length overall, Arklow Vale features a distinctive fuel energy-saving designed bow as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The newbuild launched in September 2014, demonstrates the consistency of the company (50th anniversary this year) to operate with a modern fleet serving markets chiefly in northern Europe.

The leadship newbuild of 2,999grt had sailed from Gijon, northern Spain laden with slag. The cargo was discharged at Dublin Port alongside the South Bank Quay for the adjacent Ecocem plant.

Arklow Vale represents one of the largest single class orders in the history of the Co. Wicklow based shipping company yet the newbuilds are for the Dutch division Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam. The Bodewes Trader Series or ‘V’ class ship given the naming nomenclature will also apply to her sisters which too will be registered at this major port.

The total fleet including the majority of Irish flagged vessels are currently comprised mostly of the ‘R’ class in which 15 such ships were also built in The Nederlands at the yard of Bijlsma Lemmer. The leadship Arklow Rose dates from 2002 while the final sister, Arklow Raven was completed in 2007. 

Last night Arklow Vale departed the capital 'light' (without cargo) and made the short coastal passage to Drogheda Port to dock this morning having anchored overnight. Further north in Belfast Harbour is where she made her maiden call to that port last month.

The second BodewesTrader series, Arklow View also previously reported to be undergoing sea-trials and to be named at an official ceremony not at the inland yard at Hoogezand but at Delfzijl.

The entry of Arklow Vale brings the Arklow Shipping total to 45 ships. They range from the 'R' class of 4,933dwt to the largest 'S' class bulkers of 34,905dwt. Across these ships, they can transport a variety of cargoes, among them in the carriage of bulk grain trades, steel rails, minerals and containers.

#ASLseaTrials - Arklow Vale, the leadship newbuild of the latest series of ‘V’ class cargoships on order to Arklow Shipping’s Dutch division is to carry out sea-trials tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild left the inland building yard of Royal Bodewes in Hoogezand, Groningen which is located in the north-east of the lowlands nation and is on her way down a series of connecting canals to Delfzijl. From there the Arklow Vale is to enter the River Eems estuary on the Dutch-German border which flows into the Wadden Sea.

Arklow Vale is built to a design of a Royal Bodewes 5,100dwt Trader Series in which 10 in total are on order.

In our last report, at that stage Arklow Vale was constructed at only module stage and with main sections yet to be joined up to complete the hull. The bow of the hull features a straight stem bow to reduce wave impact and reduce fuel through energy-efficiencies.

Arklow Vale was launched in September and in the customary fashion with a spectacular sideways launch. This resulted with a massive splash as the hull entered the canal for the first time much to the joy of yard workers and staff, owner-officials and spectators alike.

It is understood, Arklow Vale is owned by Avoca Shipping B.V. the Netherlands and will be operated Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam.

The major port is where both newbuilds are registered, while the majority Irish flagged fleet are registered at their homeport of Arklow, Co. Wicklow.