#Ports&Shipping – Arklow Shipping it transpires have also taken into its Irish flagged fleet a sister of Arklow Dawn that was recently acquired from the Flinter Group that went into liquidation late last year, writes Jehan Ashmore.

At 132m long the former Dutch secondhand tonnage multipurpose cargoship previously Flinter Aland is now trading as Arklow Day along with the former Flinter Atlantic. Both these recently renamed ships use the letter ‘D’ naming theme. This revives a pair albeit bulk-carriers that too were acquired as second-hand tonnage launched originally for Norwegian interests.

The latest additions are 11,204dwt each and the sisters have a 13,008m3 hold capacity and a speed of 12 knots. They are part of the overall Arklow fleet that includes Dutch managed and flagged short-sea traders. 

When entering ASL service, they are understood to have retained the grey hull livery of Flinter, as evident of Arklow Dawn which made a brief anchorage call off the ship’s Co. Wicklow homeport in October. The ship then proceeded to Warrenpoint, Co. Down.

In addition to Afloat observing also that month one of the sisters offshore of Dublin Bay while between the Muglins, Dalkey and the Kish Lighthouse. 

#SistersDryDock - A pair of sisters, one Irish flagged the other recently transferred to the UK departed before noon today and within half an hour of eachother having vacated the docks system in Swansea, south Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Arklow Shipping Ltd (ASL) short-sea trader Arklow Raider was tracked by Afloat and a former sister, Arklow Rally which was only renamed Celtic Freedom this week.

Both Dutch built 2002 cargoships sisters underwent maintenance at the recently upgraded Swansea Drydocks Ltd, as the marine repair and shiprecycling business having been taken over. According to SDL, Arklow Raider became the first ship to use the refurbished facility last month.

Arklow Rally is an R class 4,950dwt cargoship that ASL has disposed and now as Celtic Freedom is part of Welsh shipowners fleet, Charles M. Willie & Co. (Shipping) Ltd. Only last year, the Cardiff based operator acquired Arklow Rose also dating to 2002. The pair form a 9 strong fleet for the Welsh company that had a previous Celtic Freedom, albeit smaller in dwt terms and was sold three years ago to Turkish interests.

The business of drydocking used to see ASL send some of their short-sea traders to Dublin Graving Docks until a lease of the facility from Dublin Port Company led to closure in April 2016. The strategic facility in the Irish capital though was temporaily reopened earlier this year but by DPC so to permit an overhaul of tallship, Jeanie Johnston.

Local tug, Svitzer Bently was joined in the loch by Celtic Freedom, while waiting astern in Kings Dock basin Arklow Raider having taken up position in the port operated by ABP South Wales.

Pilot cutter, Beaufort accompanied the cargoship beyond the port's piers into Swansea Bay, before returning to transfer again to an already departed Arklow Raider waiting in the channel. The double departures took approximately half an hour to complete by the time the second ship cleared Swansea's entance around 11.45 this morning.

The maiden commercial voyage of Celtic Freedom sees the almost 90m cargoship make a voyage bound for Fredrikstrad, Norway while Arklow Raider only has to head across the Bristol Channel to Royal (Portbury) Docks.

Portury docks which is the modern port for Bristol is where Arklow Raider made her first sailing following completion of dry docking late last month, before crossing the Celtic Sea to Cork followed by short coastal run to Limerick. It is from the Irish west coast estuary port that the cargoship had returned in recent days to the south Wales port.

Unlike, Arklow Raider the what was to become Celtic Freedom was allocated in Swansea Drydocks the adjacent smaller Prince of Wales dry dock (No.2) that measures 170m in length. This compared to the larger namesake counterpart at just over 200m. Dry dock No.2, previously known as Palmers Dry Dock, was established in 1923 and Dry Dock No.1, formerly known as the Duke of Edinburgh Dry Dock which was built in 1958.

In the preceeding year in Dublin Port was then unveiled the new dry dry No. 2 at 220m long was the largest in the State. A neighbouring much older dry dock dating to the 1860's was during the Celtic Tiger years infilled, however thankfully plans by DPC are to re-excavate the listed structure as part of a new heritage tourism venue.

The absence of Arklow Rally within the ASL fleet, leaves only one larger sized dwt R class sister, Arklow Rambler. As the rest of the remaining 11 class are marginally smaller given a dwt of 4,933dwt and built between 2004 and 2007. 

#DublinDocklands - Afloat recently reported of Arklow Shipping's latest acquisition, Arklow Dawn that brings the fleet to 52, the majority of these cargoships comprising 13 in total are of the remaining R class sisters however there are differences between them, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The series were first introduced in 2002 with leadship Arklow Rose completed from the yard of Barkmeijer Stroobos. This cargoship is no longer in service and currently of the entire class ordered, only 11 sisters remain from this Dutch yard. Each of the dry cargo short-sea traders are 89.99 (LOA) length overall and have a deadweight of 4,933 and gross tonnage is 2,999. Cargoes carried on these ships can range from grain, animal feed to steel rails.

The strong relationship between the Dutch yard and the Irish owners was recognised with an unveiling of a symbolic stainless steel sculpture based on a ship's bow. Officials from Barkmeijer were present at the sculpture unveiling in the grounds of Arklow Shipping headquarters. At that stage in 2008 the sculpture marked the occasion of the 20th ship built by the yard for ASL.

From among the most notable and subtle design differences there are some examples outlined below when compared to the minority two eldest R class 2002 built cargships Arklow Rally and Rambler respectively. Asides that these ships were built elsewhere in Netherlands from the yard of Bijlsma Lemmer, they have a larger deadweight at 5,065, though tonnage remains equal. In terms of LOA there is a difference albeit a shorter hull by a mere 4cms! 

Changing Quay Relationships of Dublin's Docklands 

In recent months the public and office commuters working in Dublin's 'Docklands' had a rare opportunity to see a cargsohip at close quarters while berthed upriver. The cargoship was another R class, the Arklow Resolve which had berthed for a lenghtly stay along the Liffey's south bank. The cargoship had sailed from Belfast to the Irish capital, intially docking in Alexandra Basin before shifting to the old working port located closer to the city-centre. The architecture designs from port industry have been replaced by modern offices for this financial quarter of the city.

On the theme of city-centres, Afloat reported of London International Shipping Week (LISW17) the annual event where the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) promoted business networks at the Irish Embassy in central London. Also that week the Arklow Resolve arrived in the UK capital's port having finally departed Dublin. (See London's new commuter craft related report).

Up to the mid-1990's such commercial shipping activity took place in Dublin though the presence of quayside cranes and surrounding warehouseses were considerably been reduced. This demolition notably increased in the lead up to and during the construction building boom of the Celtic Tiger. 

Such historic port-related infrastructure barely remains in the Docklands where property developments much larger in scale to the recent past are under construction, notably the highest structure taking shape in the form of 'Capital Dock'. This construction site is located where Sir John Rogersons Quay meets Great Britain Quay and dominates this quarter of Dublin's skyline that is constantly changing. Afloat will have more in depth to report by focusing on examples of historical note. 

In the meantime it is refreshing that the port have recently installed Crane 292 that celebrates such ship related industrial heritage. The restored crane dating from the 1960's is somewhat a counterpart to the emerging office towerblocks, albeit the crane is set back from the quays. The crane's new home is beside Dublin Port Company headquarters, the Port Centre on Alexandra Road.

#ports&shipping - In a break from the norm Arklow Shipping has acquired secondhand tonnage following a splurge of newbuilds delivered over recent years, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The latest addition, Arklow Dawn brings a revised fleet total to 52 multipurpose vessels. This does not include those newbuilds almost completed, among them Arklow Venus as reported recently and now the addition of this former Flinter Group B.V. cargsoship. Likewise of the newbuild, Arklow Dawn revives a vessel name albeit that been of a larger dry-cargo bulker. 

The Flinter Group was one of the largest shipping groups in the Netherlands operating around 50 multipurpose vessels in the shortsea sector. The firm however was forced into bankrupty which led to the business closing in December 2016. A leading creditor ceased funding the Group with the assets in the form of the ships put up for auction.

As for ASL's latest member of the mixed Irish and Dutch flagged fleet, Arklow Dawn flies that of the tricolor from the ship's stern with Arklow as port of registry. 

Arklow Dawn has been issued with a Certification of Classification from international classification society, Bureau Veritas based in Germany.  At 132m long and on a beam of 15m, the general cargoship that cany grain is also certified to carry containers.

The 11,204dwt cargoship has a capacity of 13,008m3 and a speed of 12 knots. The annual survey 1 was carried out earlier this year in Aalborg, Denmark.

Arklow Dawn is currently on passage from Lisbon, Portugal and heading eastbound through the English Channel. The cargoship is off the Contentin Peninsula in Normandy, France from where the ship is to sail upriver on the Seine to the inland port of Rouen.

#ports&shipping - The latest in a long line of newbuild cargsoship replacements for Arklow Shipping has been identified by Afloat and not surprisingly built in a Dutch shipyard, writes Jehan Ashmore.

A steady succession of new tonnage in recent years has been ordered by ASL from in fact two Dutch yards. On this occasion it is Royal Bodewes based in Hoogezand and where the newbuild has been given yard No. 728. So what is the name of this 8th of 10 newbuilds ordered?  The answer is Arklow Venus.

This 'Venus' revives that of a predecessor that belonged to an older generation. That been a trio of smaller cargoships all since been disposed but continue serving other owners. 

As for the new V class, they have a 87m long hull that features a straight-stem bow. This is to reduce wave resistance and save on fuel consumption adding to greater efficiencies.

The previous sister, Arklow Vanguard made her launch on 'Bloomsday' and has since entered service.

#50ships - The maiden delivery voyage of Arklow Vanguard is significant as Arklow Shipping now totals a record 50 cargoships and follows the company's 50th anniverary last year, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Vanguard made the delivery passage on Monday from Delfzijl to Rotterdam, where the 87m newbuild has as a port of registry. This is because the Dutch subsidiary, Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. are located in the giant port. They are responsible in managing 19 cargoships. 

The balance of 31 cargoships are under the Irish flag and registered in the owner’s homeport of Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The headoffice of Arklow Shipping Ltd overlooks the River Avoca from where chartering teams are based and that of the Rotterdam office. To put into context they operate the mixed flagged fleet that range from the 4,900dwt ‘R’ class short-sea traders to a pair of 34,900dwt ‘S’ class sisters that trade worldwide. These cargoships are employed to carry project cargoes, grain, generals and bulk commodities including those classified under IMO regulations.

Arklow Vanguard has a 5,150dwt and is a Royal Bodewes Eco-Trader built to that yard’s own design that features a straight-stem bow design. This reduces wave resistance and so saves on fuel consumption. Also a stream-lined hull form adds to greater efficiencies.

As previously reported, launching of Arklow Vanguard took place in late March in Hoogezand near Groningen. The newbuild brings to five so far delivered out of a total of 10 Eco-Traders or ‘V’ class short-sea dry cargoships. Among, the typical cargoes to be transported will be grain, animal feed and steel rails. 

#NewBulkers- Shipbuilder Ferus Smit whose Dutch yard is according to Ships Monthly to continue constructing further newbuilds for Arklow Shipping.

The yard at Westerbroek has been given an order for a quartet of small handy-sized bulk-carriers of around 16,500dwt each. The first pair of vessels measuring 149.5m by 19.4m are to be delivered in 2018 and the second pair in 2019 respectively.

The order follows a series of ten 'C' class 5,200dwt general cargsoships in which Afloat has previously reported on those so far completed. The last launched been Arklow Castle.

Afloat also adds that the latest series are larger bulkers than the existing ‘W’ class of around 13,900dwt. At this stage though Arklow Wind only remains in service (see report) following sale of sisters to overseas owners.

The W class bulk-carriers dating to more than a decade ago totalled three. They were ASL’s first ships to be built at a yard outside in Europe. The order having gone to a Japanese shipyard.

#ShippingReview - Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene from among the following stories of the past fortnight.

Scotline the short-sea timber products operator has taken a time-charter of Lady Ariane from a Dutch owner. The cargoship sailed from Varberg, Sweden to Wicklow Port.

A pair of 87m newbuild cargoships of the mixed flagged fleet of Arklow Shipping made calls to the Port of London. Irish flagged Arklow Cadet was joined on the Thames by the brand new Dutch flagged Arklow Valour having anchored off the Kent coast: see Port of Dover freight record.

Across the North Sea at Emshaven, the Netherlands is where newbuild Arklow Valour had undergone seatrials. More recently the bitumen tanker Iver Ability docked there and not Delfzijl as expected.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council executive will undertake a full risk assessment into transfer ownership of Dun Laoghaire Harbour to the local authority, it has emerged.

A first batch of tower sections for wind turbine projects arrived at Port of Waterford for GE Wind on board BBC Orion (2007/7,223grt). A further two projects cargoes are due to the port this year.

#FinalWbulker - Arklow Castle (5,054dwt) this month became the third ‘C’ class cargoship launched, the same number had been built for older ‘W’ class bulkers, in which only one remains in service, writes Jehan Ashmore.

This third and final sister is the Irish-flagged Arklow Wind which is currently berthed at Montoir-de-Bretagne on the Loire Estuary. The 13,988dwt bulker having made a passage to France across the Bay of Biscay from Gijon in northern Spain.  

A sister, Arklow Wave dating a year earlier to 2003 has been sold by Arklow Shipping Ltd to landlocked owners in Switzerland. According to Ships Monthly, the 13,977dwt Arklow Wave has been acquired by Nova Marine Carriers SA, of Switzerland. The 136m ship has been renamed NACC Toronto.

The final sister of the trio, Arklow Willow was sold last year to overseas owners not in Europe, but in fact to north America interests. Canadian company, McNeil Marine Ltd of Hamilton based in Ontario purchased the bulker. They renamed her Florence Spirit. She along with her sisters were built for ASL in Japan by the Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation. 

There has been an impressive surge in newbuild orders, even by ASL standards. The shipping company which celebrated its 60th anniverasary last year, has in recent years placed orders for the ‘C’ class as referred above but also for ‘B’ as well as ‘V’ class cargoships. Of these newbuilds, only the C class fly the tricolour, the rest of these new ship series are Dutch flagged. 

The progressive fleet expansion and in replacing ageing tonnage no doubt suggests Arklow Wind’s days are increasingly numbered.

#CapeLaunch – A cargoship was launched today for Irish owners as the second of 10 in a new series from a shipyard in the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Ferus Smit’s Dutch yard in Westerbroek, is where the single hold 5,054dwt cargoship, Arklow Cape (yard No. 435) slid into the canal. The 'C' class newbuild of 2,999grt is to be delivered next month to Arklow Shipping Ltd. Leadship, Arklow Cadet made her entry onto the same waterway in June. 

It is pleasing to see that ASL have the newbuild with an Irish port of registry, that been her owners homeport in Co. Wicklow. This is not the case for their subsidiary, Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. as their vessels are registered in Rotterdam.

More newbuilds will join this Dutch fleet as 10 ‘V’ class cargoships are on order also in this country. A fifth sister of 5,100dwt is under completion, in which Afloat can reveal is named Arklow Valour.

The newbuild programme has also seen ASL make disposals, most recently the 2002 built Arklow Rose. She was sold to UK owners, Charles M. Willie & Co. (Shipping) Ltd of Cardiff, Wales.

As for bulker, Arklow Willow (which almost a year ago dry-docked in Dublin) has according to the Maritime Insitute of Ireland been disposed in recent months to Canadian interests. 

The South Korean built 14,000dwt bulker dating to 2004 made her delivery voyage to Lake Ontario, having been sold to McKeil Marine, Hamilton. The family owned firm are traditionally tug operators on the Lawrence Seaway.

She was renamed Florence Spirit and is operating out of Toronto to Newfoundland.