#Ireland-Iceland – It is pleasing to pick up on an Irish flagged ship from previous years of reporting for Afloat, on this occasion a bulk-carrier that has completed an Ireland-Iceland voyage this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The ship Arklow Mill was featured in 2013 at Shannon Estuary to where loading was underway at Rusal’s Aughinish Alumina processing plant.

On this occasion the 14,99dwt bulker began the voyage to Iceland on Thursday and likewise of Afloat’s previous Shannon visit the vessel had loaded from Aughinish Alumina. The Russian-owned plant on the mid-western estuary is a regular location for Arklow’s fleet of bulkers to call. This leaves the rest of the smaller short-sea trader fleet to concentrate on other cargoes.

During the voyage, Arklow Mill having exited the Mouth of the Shannon passed the Aran Islands and to the northwest was further offshore of Slyne Head, Co. Mayo. From thereon it was just the vast expanse of the Altantic Ocean before the ‘M’ class bulker reached Grundartangi, Iceland on the fourth morning since departing Irish waters.

The bulk-carrier is berthed at the location of an industrial plant located north of the capital Reykjavik.

Classification society for the bulk carrier is Bureau Veritas which has given a Class notation of +100A1 +LMC,UMS, IWS (strengthened for heavy cargoes). The total capacity of the Arklow registered vessel which has four holds is 18110 m³ / 639490ft³.

The Japanese built Arklow Mill dates to 2010 and as alluded belongs to the ‘M’ class, the second largest series in the ASL fleet in terms of dwt. Only a pair of ‘S’ class sisters are larger at 34,905dwt.