#ArklowNewbuild – Arklow Shipping Ltd's latest newbuild Arklow Muse joins 'M' class sisters as part of a mixed dry-cargo fleet of 45 vessels ranging between 3,000 – 14,990dwt, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Unlike the rest of the five 'M' class series built by Mokpo Shipyard Corporation in South Korea, the 14,018dwt Arklow Muse was completed by Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering.

The principle dimensions of the dry-cargo vessel are 136m long,  a 21m beam and draught of around 8.5m.

Her classification society is Bureau Veritas. Class notation is for +100A1 +LMC,UMS, IWS (strengthened for heavy cargo) and her four holds. For example she can load a cargo of grain totaling 18,110m3 / 639,490 sq ft.

As for her power-plant, this is a main engine of the MaK 6M 43C design with a 5400kW capacity and a Jake reduction gear Rolls Royce controllable pitch propellers delivering about 14 knots.

Arklow Muse is registered at Arklow, her Irish homeport where the company headquarters are based managing the majority of the fleet. The balance of ships are operated from the chartering division Arklow Shipping N.V., located in Rotterdam.

Coincidentally, a sister of Arklow Muse, the 2010 built Arklow Mill is underway bound for Rotterdam, having yesterday loaded at the Aughinish Alumina processing plant on the Shannon Estuary.

Earlier this year, Arklow Mill had her deadweight tonnage (dwt) increased to 14,990 tonnes making her one of the largest vessels in the fleet in terms of dwt.

The work was carried out by Dublin Dry Docks in Alexandra Basin. It is also understood that the dry-docking involved a MEWIS duct fitted to the propeller to improve greater efficiency.

In addition to Arklow Mill, the Irish flagged vessel shared the Aughinish jetty with another bulker, Aom Julia of 76,000dwt. She was unloading bauxite on the adjacent berth of the Shannon estuary facility.