The newest Irish flagged merchant ship, Arklow Ranger has made its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Norway as the newbuild dry-cargo ship arrived this afternoon into the Arctic Circle, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Ranger departed the Dutch north-east port of Eemshaven having departed last Thursday, 11 January, the day shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes officially delivered the newbuild to Arklow Shipping Ltd. Also that day the newbuild began the maiden voyage, firstly heading through the Wadden Sea and then into the North Sea.

On the Sunday, Afloat continued to track the newbuild when offshore of the Nordic nation’s coast. The inaugural passage was concluded after navigating the 11 nautical mile Glomfjorden to the fjord’s namesake port of Glomfjord with the 105m merchant ship berthing today at around 1500hrs.

Arklow Ranger, is the fourth Eco-Trader 6,800dwat / R class multipurpose newbuild of seven on order from ASL to the Dutch shipbuilders based in Hoogezand, near Groningen, which conducted sea trails in the North Sea based out of Eemshaven.

Currently berthed in the Norwegian port is ASL fleetmate, Arklow Field and their Dutch flagged Arklow Glen.

In addition is a Norwegian based rival, Wilson AS of Bergen, whose cargo ship Wilson Dieppe is berthed ahead of the Arklow trio at the fjord port located in Nordland, a county mid-way located along the country’s rugged and extensive coastline.

In an update on Arklow Ranger, the fourth of seven Dutch shipyard completed Eco-Traders of the 6,800dwt / R class cargo ships, departed last month from its inland location to reach a seaport, writes Jehan Ashmore.

An Autumnal launch of the Arklow Ranger, which is just shy of 105m (LOA) length overall, took place in October as Afloat reported at the Royal Bodewes Shipyard at Hoogezand, near Groningen.

Following final works to prepare the Irish flagged cargo ship with a combined hold capacity of 310,000 cubic feet (cbft), the newbuild last month departed the shipyard.

This involved towage from the shipyard on the Winschoterdiep Canal and an onward connection via the Zeehavenkannaal to reach the Port of Delfzijl on the Ems estuary. From there took place the short passage to Eemshaven on 18 December, this in the same week prior to the start of the Festive Season.

It would appear that the last known activity of the Arklow Ranger occured the following day, after arriving at Eemshaven, as the newbuild currently remains at its berth in the Dutch north-eastern port.

As customary with the newbuilds Arklow Shipping have on order to Bodewes, that the shipbuilder's sea trails are conducted offshore of Emshaven. Such trials are carried out in the vicinity of The Frisian Islands, also known as the Wadden Sea Islands, which form an archipelago also off the neighbouring German coast.

Beyond the archipelago is the open waters of the North Sea from where Afloat will have more to report on this newest addition to the Irish Shipping Registrar.

Arklow Ranger following a christening ceremony at Royal Bodowes main shipyard in the Netherlands was launched yesterday having slide off the stocks into the water, writes Jehan Ashmore.

This is the 4th general cargo vessel out of the seven Eco-Trader 6,885 deadweight tonnes (dwt) series on order from Arklow Shipping Ltd.

The 104m Arklow Ranger was launched during the afternoon from the Royal Bodewes shipyard at Hoogazand near Groningen.

As for the other three completed newbuilds, leadship, Arklow Racer was delivered to ASL in February, followed by the series second ship, Arklow Rally which made its maiden sailing on the Summer solstice.

The newest Eco-Trader or ‘R’ class, Arklow Rambler last month departed the inland shipyard along the canal system while under tow to Delfzijl on the Ems estuary.

It is from the nearby port of Emshaven that this third newbuild has been carrying out ship-builders sea trials in the North Sea.