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Displaying items by tag: 2 newbuilds due

Once again Arklow Shipping has had Dutch shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes launch an Eco-Trader of their 6,800dwt design series, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Resolve with a newbuild no. (NB: 825) at the Hoogezand yard, near Groningen, is were the launch on Friday took place at one of Bodewes three production sites. This newest Eco-Trader represents the fifth so far of seven of the series on order for the Irish client.

The morning transverse launch onto the Winschoterdiep Canal of the almost 105m multi-purpose dry-cargo ship with double side-skin construction, follows the 4,145 gross tonnes Arklow Ranger which as Afloat recently reported made its maiden sailing. This involved the 11 knot capable short-sea trader make a passage from Emshaven, Netherlands to within Norway's Arctic Circle.

As for the rest of the operational Eco-Traders/ R-class series, Arklow’s Rambler, Rally and 'leadship' Racer was launched in December, 2022 and was delivered to ASL almost a year ago, and was in service, starting with a maiden port of call to Spain.

When the two-hold Arklow Resolve is completed, the newbuild is to join the 38 Irish-flagged fleet that comprises Arklow Shipping Ltd. This in addition to 19 vessels that belong to Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam.

Combined the fleet, mostly of short-sea traders that serve in northern Europe and bulk-carriers further overseas, total 57 dry-cargo ships. Of the bulk-carriers, this involves six M-class and two larger twins of the S-series.

Published in Arklow Shipping

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.