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Final Newbuild of 10 Ship-Series Launched for Arklow Shipping's 'C' Class Cargoships

3rd October 2022
Newbuild Arklow Crest, the final 'C' class general cargoship which was launched at a Dutch shipyard
Newbuild Arklow Crest, the final 'C' class general cargoship which was launched at a Dutch shipyard Credit: ShipyardFerusSmit-Instagram

The launch of Arklow Crest has culminated in the final newbuild of a ten-ship series for Irish shipowners, when the short sea trader took to the waters at a Dutch shipyard last Friday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

With a newbuild number of 436, Arklow Crest slid into the canal at Ferus Smit's shipyard in Westerbroek which was contracted to build the new design cargo vessels for Arklow Shipping.

The Co. Wicklow shipowners having received the leadship of the series, Arklow Cadet which took place in 2016. During this year the shipyard completed a trio of the 'C' class general cargoships with Arklow's Cloud, Coast and Cove and all currently in service. 

All but one of the 10 'C' class were given ship names never previously used by vessels of the ASL fleet which was formed in 1966.

Following sea trials and delivery to ASL the Arklow Crest will be able to provide clients a maximized hold volume of 220.000 cft and a carrying capacity over 5,000 deadweight tons. This makes the almost 88m long vessel still fall under the 3,000 gross tons limit.

The single hold cargoship has an 1A iceclass notation and for propulsion, this is generated from a 1,740kW MaK engine and using a single ducted propeller.

A typical bread and butter cargo will be in the carriage of grain. 

Likewise of the C class series, Arklow Crest is registered at its east coast homeport and will represent the newest merchant ship of the Irish-flagged fleet.

Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Shipyards

Afloat will be focusing on news and developments of shipyards with newbuilds taking shape on either slipways and building halls.

The common practice of shipbuilding using modular construction, requires several yards make specific block sections that are towed to a single designated yard and joined together to complete the ship before been launched or floated out.

In addition, outfitting quays is where internal work on electrical and passenger facilities is installed (or upgraded if the ship is already in service). This work may involve newbuilds towed to another specialist yard, before the newbuild is completed as a new ship or of the same class, designed from the shipyard 'in-house' or from a naval architect consultancy. Shipyards also carry out repair and maintenance, overhaul, refit, survey, and conversion, for example, the addition or removal of cabins within a superstructure. All this requires ships to enter graving /dry-docks or floating drydocks, to enable access to the entire vessel out of the water.

Asides from shipbuilding, marine engineering projects such as offshore installations take place and others have diversified in the construction of offshore renewable projects, from wind-turbines and related tower structures. When ships are decommissioned and need to be disposed of, some yards have recycling facilities to segregate materials, though other vessels are run ashore, i.e. 'beached' and broken up there on site. The scrapped metal can be sold and made into other items.