Two months after launching, Arklow Rambler the third of seven Eco-Traders cargoships was towed from a Dutch inland shipbuilder and is this afternoon bound for the open sea, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 104.93m length overall (LOA) dry-cargo ship built by Royal Bodewes shipyard at Hoogazand near Groningen, departed in the late morning on a tow to Delfzijl on the Ems estuary.

Towage duties of the 6,800 deadweight tonnes Arklow Rambler were carried out by the Waterpoort which has performed similar such tasks for many newbuilds ordered by Arklow Shipping Ltd. The newbuild is Irish flagged and likewise of the series so far completed. 

Approximately two and half hours later the tow had reached the Port of Delfzijl located on the Dutch side of the estuary shared with Germany.

Waterpoort then continued as an escort of the Arklow Rambler which headed out of Delfzijl along the Zeehavenkannaal before entering the estuary as Afloat tracked at around 1615hrs (Irish time) today.

Arklow Rambler under its own engine power, is now underway to the Port of Emshaven and from there will use the port as a base in between shipbuilder sea trials.