#ArklowGreens - Arklow Bank, leadship of six 'B' class newbuild general cargoships (4,800dwt) of the Arklow Shipping fleet is berthed at the Boliden Jetty mineral terminal in Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild has 'greener' hull design credentials and along with her sisters flies the Dutch flag for Arklow Shipping Netherland B.V. As previously reported, her launch earlier this year was from Ferus Smit's Dutch shipyard at Westerbroek.

The B class dispense the use of a bulbous bow and instead is replaced with a straight-stem bow shape which brings a number of 'environmental' advantages. This allows the 119m hulled newbuilds which have sharper waterlines to have reduced resistance irrespective of loading draft.

Earlier this week Arklow Bank arrived from Coruna, northern Spain to the 'Coal' berth where scrap-metal is one of the trading activities that occupy this quayside. In recent days she shifted to load at Boliden (formerly Tara Mines) zinc loading terminal in Alexandra Basin and is expected to depart today.

Another sister, Arklow Bay which was launched in March (following Arklow Beach) became the largest ever vessel to trade to Drogheda Port last month. She too arrived from a Spanish port, Garrucha carrying a cargo of gypsum for Irish Cement's Platin plant facility.