#Brazil-France - Arklow Spirit a bulk-carrier has almost retraced the historic French tallship Belém's cocoa bean trade route from Brazil to Paris, where downriver in Rouen, the Irish ship docked having sailed from south America via Ireland last month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Spirit's maiden call firstly to Cork followed by Dublin as previously reported involved discharging animal feed loaded in Porte Vila do Conde outside Belém. The sailing ship having been named after the north Brazilian city on the Atlantic Ocean. As regards the bulker and sister Arklow Spray are the largest under the Irish flag at 39,905dwt.   

The calls by Arklow Spirit to Ireland will to some revive memories of the state-owned Irish Shipping Ltd's deep-sea fleet, in particular the larger 71,000dwt 'Panamax' bulk-carrier Irish Spruce. The Verolme Cork Dockyard ship completed in 1983 still holds the title as the largest merchant vessel to have been listed on the Irish register of shipping. In the following year, ISL however were liquidated. Afloat will feature a follow-up in comparing the bulk-carriers.   

Upon completion of discharging in Dublin, Arklow Spirit returned to anchorage in the bay before heading to Falmouth for orders. This day last week, Afloat had tracked the 182m bulker during its anchorage off Cornwall. Also in the vicinity offshore of Coverock was anchored the aptly named Green Brazil, given the colour is used on the hulls of the Arklow Shipping fleet and the coincidence in the name of the country.

Further orders led Arklow Spirit to cross the English Channel to take up yet another anchorage call in the Bai de Seine before navigating to the inland port of Rouen. The location of these docks, Petit-Gouronne is just downriver of the Normandy city from where trade is also carried further inland on barges plying to and from Paris.

It is along the banks of the Seine in the French capital where Belém (built 1896 outside Nantes) was essentially a bulker too during that era. The three-mast ship, traded also in Caribbean sugar with the cocoa-beans loaded in Belém would then be bound for a Paisienne chocolate-maker.

During the long career of the ship this included a rename, Fantôme II following ownership to the Guinnes family for use as a private yacht that took a world tour in 1922 and 1923.

Remarkably, Belém at 121 years old still remains in service, albeit not commercially except for the odd 'wine' shipment, Afloat will have more about this historic sail-training ship. The tallship, the oldest sailing in Europe,is recognised as an importanct example of French maritime heritage. In August, this year a visit took place in Galway Port and the ship made open to the public.

Currently, Belém is berthed on the Loire in Nantes. There is another French connection between the sailing ship and that of Irish Spruce, in which Afloat will have more to reveal.

#LargestIrish - One of two of the largest Irish flagged cargoships, Arklow Spirit of 33,905 deadweight tons (dwt) made a maiden call to Dublin Port over the October bank holiday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Spirit's arrival took place on Monday which saw the 182m long bulk-carrier which otherwise normally trades on global deep sea routes make a rare appearance in Irish waters.

Such a call will to some generations recall the era of when the Irish state had operated a deep sea-fleet. That was Irish Shipping Ltd (ISL) however they were liquidated more than three decades ago amid much controversary in the handling of their operations. 

The five-cargo hold bulker is registered in Arklow where the Co. Wicklow port is also headquarters of Arklow Shipping Ltd. Last year, ASL marked 50 years in service and the shipowners are easily the largest indigenous fleet on the Irish Shipping Register.

As the distinctive company's green-hulled Arklow Spirit edged cautiously along Dublin Port's channel fairway with tugs in assistance, it was a proud sight to have observed.

In addition the bulk-carrier's deck-mounted quartet of red cranes are only equipped on this ship along with sister, Arklow Spray dating to 2014. The 'S' sisters were built in the South Korean yard of Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering.

Arklow Spirit docked in Alexandra Basin to discharge the final installment of a part-cargo of animal-feed as previously such cargo was unloaded in Cork (Ringaskiddy see related report) according to the ship's agent, Doyle Shipping Group, DSG. The call to Cork was also a first port of call, though it remains to be confirmed it the ship has been in Irish waters beforehand.

The bulk-carrier had originally departed the Brazilian port of Porte Vila do Conde near Belem. It was during the voyage across the Altantic off Ponta Delgada, Azores is where Afloat had tracked the Arklow Spirit bound for Ireland.

ASL also operate a further six bulk-carriers, albeit the 'M' class sisters are smaller at 14,990dwt each. The four-cargo hold bulkers do not feature self-cargo handling gear. One of these sisters, Arklow Marsh was also tracked by Afloat in the English Channel. This saw the 136m bulker then heading for Ireland having too loaded animal feed in Imjuiden, Netherlands.

It was on Saturday that Arklow Spirit had joined Arklow Marsh already anchored in Dublin Bay. This occurance presented a rare sight and given the two different bulker class series.

First to enter Dublin Port was Arklow Marsh which discharged at the same berth in Alexandra Basin to where Arklow Spirit currently occupies.

Afloat has identified that there are 34 ASL cargsoships that fly the Irish tricolor, that include all 8 bulk-carriers witin the overall fleet of 53. The balance of this total been 19 cargoships that are Dutch flagged and based through the company's Rotterdam division, Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V.

Asides the bulk-carriers, the combined mixed flag short-sea cargoships range from 4,933dwt to the newbuilds such as the Arklow Venus of 5,150dwt which was launched on Monday. This 'V' class cargoship which is officially classed as an Eco-Trader 5,150dwt, as it is from the design of Dutch shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes.

Arklow Spirit will remain docked in Dublin until tomorrow night, whereas Arklow Marsh currently remains in the Port of Cork though is due to depart today.

#BrazilCork - Appropriately one of the largest Irish flagged ships, Arklow Spirit is due to Cork (Ringaskiddy) where as previously reported the National College of Ireland annual Maritime Event Open Day is on this Thursday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Afloat has been tracking the 33,905dwt tonnes bulk-carrier Arklow Spirit which is on a transatlantic voyage from the Brazilian port of Vila de Conde. The port lies to the west of Belem on the Atlantic Ocean.

The 'S' class 2013 South Korean built bulker and newer sister Arklow Spray dating two years later are among 34 Irish flagged ships that form as part of the Arklow Shipping fleet. The remaining smaller but increasing Dutch flagged counterparts are managed by Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V.

Belem on the north coast of the South American nation was the orignal name given to the three master sailing ship that carried cocoa-beans. The sail trader during its career changed several hands including omwership by the Guinness family. The ship was converted for them as an ocean-going yacht and renamed Fantôme II.

At 121 years old, the three master dating to 1896 remarkably remains in service as the Belem that visited Galway this year during the summertime.

As for the 182m long Arklow Spirit the bulk-carrier is to berth at Ringaskiddy deepwater berth which lies to the west of the campus of the NMCI. The Maritime Open Day will be hosted by representatives from international shipping companies along with maritime organisations.

They will be available to provide information about careers in the maritime industry. These companies provide employment and sponsorship to students undertaking courses offered by the National Maritime College of Ireland.

Throughout the day there will be:

Tours of the state of the art training facilities at the college.

An events’ hall to visit international maritime companies and organisations.

Presentation for schools and students on course opportunities at the NMCI.

For enquiries and group bookings please telephone: 021 433 5607 E-mail: [email protected] and by visiting: www.nmci.ie