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#ArklowThames - This week Afloat reported on stories from the Strait of Dover and it is on the other side of the Kent coast that a new ship, part of the Arklow Shipping fleet was until yesterday at anchorage, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild Arklow Valour (2017/5,158dwt) is the fifth completed ‘V’ class dry-cargoship.The vessel had anchored off Margate on the north Kent coast before sailing last night to the Port of London. Arklow Valour was within the first hour of this month moored alongside Conways Berth at Erith.

Arklow Valour is under the Dutch flag and is managed by Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam. While upriver and opposite Tilbury Docks, a fleetmate but this time Irish flagged, Arklow Cadet (2016/5,085dwt) of Arklow Shipping Ltd was berthed at Bevans Wharf at Northfleet. The ship had sailed from Belfast Harbour. 

Both newbuilds are 87m long and were allotted berths on the south bank by the Port of London Authority. The PLA are responsible for operations covering 95 miles of the River Thames. In addition to maintaining commercial and leisure users safe, the protection and enhancement of the environment and promotion of trade and travel.

Last month, Arklow Valour had been towed from the inland shipyard of Royal Bodewes at Hoogezand along the canal to Delfzijl to enter the sea. At Westerbroek which is nearby to Hoogezand is the German owned yard of Frus-Smit that completed Arklow Cadet last year. The vessel is the first in a series of ‘C’ class cargoships.

It is at Delfzijl, a port on the Ems Estuary, that by a series of coincidences there has been recent focus on Irish shipping news stories. In addition to that of recent years, notably given all the newbuilds ordered by Arklow Shipping that have been built in this region.

Also in the coverage of these newbuilds have been the ships entering to the sea for the first time to carry out sea trials. These trials are also conducted from Emeshaven (including Arklow Valour) which is located outside of the estuary on the North Sea.

As alluded in the introduction, the Strait of Dover, is where on Monday the bitumen tanker, Iver Ability (former long-stay Dublin Bay anchorage caller) transited the world’s busiest shipping channel. The 12,497dwt Iver Ability had departed Irish waters bound for Delfzijl, but as reported yesterday was and currently remains at anchorage in Dutch waters.

Also reported at Delfzijl is where Corrib Shipping Group are now providing ship management of the Ziltborg. The 7,200dwt general cargosship was renamed for Dutch based owners, Wagenborg.

Ziltborg remains at the port but in a floating drydock having undergone work including repainting of company colours. The Dublin based group expect the new addition to enter service within weeks.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Round Britain & Ireland Race

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race will feature a wide variety of yachts racing under the IRC rating rule as well as one design and open classes, such as IMOCA, Class40 and Multihulls. The majority of the fleet will race fully crewed, but with the popularity of the Two-Handed class in recent years, the race is expected to have a record entry.

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race starts on Sunday 7th August 2022 from Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with The Royal Yacht Squadron.

It is run every four years. There have been nine editions of the Round Britain and Ireland Race which started in 1976 Sevenstar has sponsored the race four times - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and has committed to a longterm partnership with the RORC

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is a fully crewed non-stop race covering 1,805 nautical miles and is open to IRC, IRC Two Handed, IMOCA 60s, Class40s, Volvo 65s and Multihulls that will race around Britain and Ireland, starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes on the Isle of Wight starting after Cowes Week on Sunday 7 August 2022

The last edition of the race in 2018 attracted 28 teams with crews from 18 nations. Giles Redpath's British Lombard 46 saw over victory and Phil Sharp's Class40 Imerys Clean Energy established a new world record for 40ft and under, completing the course in 8 days 4 hrs 14 mins 49 secs.

The 1,805nm course will take competitors around some of the busiest and most tactically challenging sailing waters in the world. It attracts a diverse range of yachts and crew, most of which are enticed by the challenge it offers as well as the diversity and beauty of the route around Britain and Ireland with spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Most sailors agree that this race is one of the toughest tests as it is nearly as long as an Atlantic crossing, but the changes of direction at headlands will mean constant breaks in the watch system for sail changes and sail trim

Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race Records:

  • Outright - OMA07 Musandam-Oman Sail, MOD 70, Sidney Gavignet, 2014: 3 days 03:32:36
  • Monohull - Azzam Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, VO 65, Ian Walker, 2014: 4 days 13:10:28
  • Monohull All-Female - Team SCA, VO 65, Samantha Davies, 2014: 4 days 21:00:39
  • Monohull 60ft or less - Artemis Team Endeavour, IMOCA 60, Brian Thompson/Artemis Ocean Racing, 2014: 5 days 14:00:54
  • Monohull 40ft or less – Imerys Clean Energy, Class40, Phil Sharp, 2018: 8 days 4:14:49