Arklow Shipping, which this year marks a maritime milestone of its 60th anniversary, is also to celebrate their latest newbuild which to be launched next week at a shipyard in the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Arklow Dale is the first vessel of a new series of six eco-friendly cargoships to be built for Ireland’s only indigenous shipowner and also to be completed and delivered in 2026.
Afloat also highlights having consulted the ASL website's fleet list, that the Co. Wicklow-based shipowner (and Dutch subsidiary Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V.) has an existing fleet of 60 short-sea traders and deep-sea bulk carriers. Of this total, the majority are Irish-flagged, with just over one-third flying the red, white, and blue tricolor of the Dutch flag.
So on Thursday, the 10th of September, at 11.00, the newbuild ‘Arklow Dale’ (Nb. 479) is scheduled to be launched from the slipway at Ferus Smit’s Westerbroek shipyard, located in the northeast of the nation, near the border with Germany, where the shipbuilding group has an office in Leer. In addition to another Dutch facility at Groningen.
With an overall length (LOA) of 129.95 metres, a deadweight of approximately 11,500 tonnes, and a cargo hold capacity of around 470,000 cft, Arklow Dale features two box-shaped cargo holds and is designed for a wide range of dry bulk and general cargoes.
Arklow Dale is powered by a 2,400 kW ABC main engine driving a controllable-pitch ducted propeller. A 560 kWh battery system is incorporated into the electrical installation, providing additional flexibility and efficiency during operation.
The first two vessels in the ‘D’ series, including Arklow Dale, will also be equipped with a fully electric Sennebogen excavator for self-discharging stone cargoes. This further expands the operational flexibility of the vessels and enables efficient cargo handling in harbour.
The new design developed by Ferus Smit incorporates a high degree of modularity and flexibility, with provisions for future alternative fuels, battery technology, and further developments in energy-efficient operation.
This extensive future-proof approach allows the vessels to adapt to changing operational and environmental requirements throughout their lifetime, setting a new standard for the design of modern and flexible cargo vessels.
