#ArklowGreenNewbuild – Arklow Shipping's latest B class newbuild with 'green' credentials, Arklow Brave which is designed with a bulb-less hull form is to be christened and launched next month, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Arklow Brave follows a quartet of bulk orientated general cargo ships sisters, starting with leadship Arklow Bank launched in January from the Ferus Smit B.V. Netherlands shipyard in Westerbroek.
At 119m in length, Arklow Brave's slender bow form which also features a straight stem is designed to take into account the various loading drafts and wave conditions. She and her sisters are to be deployed in the shipment of wheat, corn and serve in other bulk commodity markets.
When the 4,800dwt Arklow Brave which is scheduled for launching on 12 December makes contact with the water, this will present a spectacular spectacle, given the yard's procedure of launching amidships or sideways. An example, being her predecessor, Arklow Bay... click HERE for report and footage!
The launch onto the waterway of Arklow Brave will represent the fifth out of a total of six B class ordered for the Irish company. She will serve under their Dutch based division, Arklow Shipping Netherlands N.V.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Arklow Bay which called to Dublin Port in late October, has returned in recent days and she is currently berthed at the Deep Water Berth (Coal Quay) along the south quays.
The newbuild on her previous call to the port had docked at the Boliden Tara Mines Ltd jetty which has a conveyor-belt loading system to transfer the zinc and ore cargo on board having arrived to the port by train. She then headed for the Norwegian smelting works at Odda.
Alongside the jetty today is a larger fleetmate, Arklow Willow at 14,001dwt albeit in a lay by capacity following routine maintenance in dry-dock that was carried out by Dublin Graving Docks Ltd.
When Arklow Brave is delivered to her Rotterdam based subsidiary, she will be part of a 46-strong fleet that includes a majority of Irish-flagged ships that carry cargoes mostly throughout northern Europe.
