One of the newest dry-cargo vessels of Arklow Shipping’s Dutch flagged fleet, Afloat tracked today at anchor off the Co. Wicklow port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Gem had departed Liverpool yesterday evening to arrive off Arklow this morning and this follows yesterday’s coverage of an even newer fleetmate, Arklow Rambler (see, pending maiden Irish port of call).

The Dutch flagged G series Arklow Gem which is the leadship, had departed from the other side of the Irish Sea, at the Alexandra Branch No. 2 Dock of the Merseyside port. As of this afternoon, the 5,150 dwt newbuild continues to remain at sea awaiting orders whilst at anchor in Arklow Bay.

While in the port, along the North Quay of the River Avoca is the Arklow Maritime Heritage Museum which focuses on its boat-building, lifeboat and fishing traditions, and not surprisingly featuring photographs and models regarding the town’s famous shipping company run by the Tyrrell family.

The distinctive green hulls of the combined Arklow Shipping fleet of Irish and Dutch flagged vessels involve their short-sea fleet of dry-cargo ships trading in European waters. Whereas, Arklow Shipping Ltd's Irish-only registered fleet also includes medium to larger bulk-carriers, operating deep-sea on a global scale. Of the largest bulkers are the 34,905 dwat twins. Arklow Spirit which today is off Spain at the Tarragonna anchorage in the Meditterranean while Arklow Spray is in Mexico but on the west coast in Manzanillo on the Pacific Ocean.

Also amongst the museum's exhibits and displays located at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre, is a video of the launch of the B class Arklow Beach of 8,660dwt built almost a decade ago by Ferus Smit for Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. The same shipyard is currently constructing the G series in which so far three have been completed for the Dutch division based in Rotterdam.

The second of the series is Arklow Glen which is in service, having made a recent passage from Aberdeen, Scotland to Seville, Spain where the short-sea trader is currently located at the inland port. As for the third newbuild, Arklow Globe was only launched last month at their Dutch inland shipyard in Westerbroek, outside Groningen.

A further two newbuilds are to be constructed in the five-ship series and will be flagged in the Netherlands.