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Displaying items by tag: Fourth 'C' class launch

#DoubleEvents - On the same day ICG’s new Irish Ferries cruiseferry had a first steel-plate cutting ceremony held in a German yard, this was in marked contrast to Arklow Shipping having yet another ship launched in neighbouring Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Clan (yard No. 427) an open-hatch decker was launched successfully on Friday at Ferus Smit’s yard in Westerbroek. The newbuild is the fourth 5,200dwt general cargoship built so far in a series of 10 that began with the ‘Cadet’ last year.

Likewise of interim sisters, Arklow Cape and Arklow Castle (see report), the latest newbuild was launched into the waterway with the public having an opportunity to view from the opposite side along the ‘Winschoterdiep’. The launching however was performed without ceremony, as the christening of Arklow Clan is to take place at a later stage.

Last year marked the 50th year of Arklow Shipping Limited following an amalgamation in 1966 of three independent shipowning families. The Tyrrell, Kearon and Hall families all had origins directly in trading auxiliary sailing schooners from the banks of the River Avoca that flows through the Co. Wicklow port.

Arklow Clan is a short-sea trader built from a new design or of the ‘C’ Class series that will each have a maximized hold volume of 220.000 cft and a carrying capacity over 5000 deadweight tons. These characteristics will make this newbuild and sisters still fall under the 3,000 gross tons limit.

The single-hold vessel will be given an 1A iceclass notation and propelled by a 1740 kW MaK engine with a single ducted propeller. 

Delivery of Arklow Clan is scheduled for May, the same month in 2018 that was originally announced by ICG/Irish Ferries newbuild for delivery. As reported today, the giant 50,000grt cruiseferry, however will be delivered by FSG Flensburg later in mid-2018.

Returning to Ferus-Smit’s Dutch yard which has been contracted also by ASL for a quartet of small handy-sized bulk-carriers. They will be around 16,500dwt each and with the first pair to be delivered next year.

Published in Ports & Shipping

Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Irish Lifeboat Stations

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland, with an operational base in Swords, Co Dublin. Irish RNLI crews are tasked through a paging system instigated by the Irish Coast Guard which can task a range of rescue resources depending on the nature of the emergency.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

 

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

© Afloat 2020