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#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

About the 29er Skiff Dinghy

The 29er is a one-design double-handed, single trapeze skiff for youth sailors.

There is an active class in Ireland, just one of the 38-countries from across all continents now racing the high-performance skiff.

The 29er is one of the latest dinghy classes to arrive in Ireland and has a 50/50 split between boys and girls.

The class like to describe the boat as "The most popular skiff for sailors who want to go fast!".

Derived from the Olympic class 49er class and designed by Julian Bethwaite the 29er was first produced in 1998.

Two sailors sail the 29er, one on trapeze.

The class is targeted at youth sailors aiming at sailing the larger 49er which is an Olympic class.


The 6.25-metre high rig features a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker; a self-tacking jib decreases the workload of the crew, making manoeuvres more efficient and freeing the crew to take the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The 15.00 m2 spinnaker rigging set-up challenges crews to be fit and coordinated, and manoeuvres in the boat require athleticism due to its lack of inherent stability and the high speed with which the fully battened mainsail and jib power up.

The 74kg weight hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout.

The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is in three parts - an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease both overall weights, and the capsizing moment a heavy mast tip can generate. Foils are aluminium or fibreglass.

About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):

  • ILCA 4: sail of 4.70m2
  • ILCA 6: sail of 5.76 m2
  • ILCA 7: sail of 7.06 m2

29er skiff technical specs

  • Hull weight 74kg (163lb)
  • LOA 4.45m (14.4ft)
  • Beam 1.77m (5ft 7in)
  • Crew 2 (single trapeze) 
  • Spinnaker area 15.00 m2 (181.2sq.ft)
  • Upwind sail area 12.5 m2 (142.0 sq.ft)
  • Mast length 6.25m (20.5ft)

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