#Ports&Shipping - The final newbuild of 10 short-sea traders commissioned for Arklow Shipping, the Arklow Villa was launched at a Dutch shipyard this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Yard no. 730 Arklow Villa is singledecker built at Royal Bodewes shipyard in Hoogezand. The newbuild was given the yard's customary sideways launch which took place at 10.00. 

The 2,999grt shortsea trader is built to the yard's in-house Eco-Trader 5,150 series which began with the launch of leadship Arklow Vale in 2015.

The series can otherwise be referred as the 'V' class given their vessels naming nomenclature which saw last month a previous sister Arklow Viking began sea trials. This sister has a main engine (MaK 6M25 1740 kW) generating about 12.5 knots. 

Eco-Traders are constructed using efficient hull design to minimise drag and thus reduce fuel costs. The final sister will also operate for Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. meaning that the latest 87m newbuild will fly the Dutch flag and have Rotterdam as a port of registry. 

The launch follows Afloat's recent report on the acquisition of second-tonnage to Arklow Shipping's Irish flagged fleet.

Arklow Dale is the latest addition having been a former Flinter Group B.V. cargoship, Flinter Arctic that belonged to the Dutch company that totalled around 50 vessels. This fleet total was similar to ASL's two nations flagged fleet comprising mostly of short-sea traders and several deep-sea bulkers. 

#Ports&Shipping - The latest newbuild multipurpose cargoship for Arklow Shipping was launched in the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Cliff (yard No 428) was launched at Ferus Smit's Westerbroek yard on Friday last week as the fifth of 10 on order of the 5,000dwt newbuilds. The leadship, Arklow Cadet began the ‘C’ class cargoships series when delivered into service last year. The previous sister Arklow Clan was launched in April.

At 87m in length overall, Arklow Cliff’s single hold has a maximized volume of 220.000 cft and a carrying capacity over 5000 deadweight tons, yet it still falls under the 3000 gross tons limit.

The newbuild has been given an 1A ice class notation. As for propulsion the cargoship has a 1740 kW MaK engine with a single ducted propeller.

#FoggyLaunch - In particularly foggy conditions Arklow Shipping's newest dry-cargo vessel Arklow Valour was launched in the Netherlands yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Dutch flagged 2,999 gross tonnage general cargsoship (yard No. 725) was launched sideways off the stocks at Royal Bodewes in Hoogezand. The newbuild is to serve ASL's Rotterdam based Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. fleet. 

It is also pleasing to report that the upgrading of Arklow Shipping's fleet includes Irish flagged vessels as Arklow Cape was launched last month at Ferus Smit’s Dutch yard in Westerbreok.

As for Arklow Valour this fourth sister is of 10 single-hold cargoships on order. The 85m long vessel is a Bodewes 5,150dwt Eco-Trader design or in terms of vessel naming theme is of the ‘V’ class series. 

The newbuild has a straight stemmed bow likewise of the last completed sister Arklow Valley launched in July. This revised design compared to a previous trio of sisters as outlined below is also to provide an improved vision to the bow anchors when anchoring.

Representing the trio are Arklow Valiant, View and leadship Vale that feature a more distinctive pointed bow. This is to improve energy efficiency by deflecting wave impact and thus saving on fuel consumption.

These newbuilds are earning their keep as earlier this month Afloat noted Arklow Valley offshore of Dublin Bay. The vessel was bound for Drogheda Port having sailed from Terneuzen, Netherlands.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Arklow Shipping Ltd's newbuild Arklow Muse joins 'M' class sisters as part of a dry-cargo fleet of vessels.

As outlined by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) August was an uncharacteristically good month for ship-builders as many ship-owners took advantage of favourable pricing to invest heavily.

The Transport Committee of the European Parliament has recently had an exchange of view on the Commission Proposal for a Port Regulation, which was published in late May.

Lockout 1913 food relief ship S.S. Hare, which brought vital supplies from Liverpool to Dublin, was re-enacted by cargoship Ben Maye, which by coincidence is operated by the century old Ramsey Steamship Company.

Containership orders rise for the first eight months of 2013 have totaled 1.34m TEU, a 205% increase on the same period last year.