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A UK forest-products specialist which has operations including services to Irish Ports have ordered a third newbuild of the same design from a Dutch shipyard, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Scotline Marine Holdings Ltd confirmed the order from Royal Bodewes Shipyard of Hoogezand from where newbuilding (yard no.750) is to be named Scot Ranger. This is the same name used previously following the sale earlier last year of Scot Ranger which had seen this older tonnage discharge cargoes in Wicklow Port. 

Scot Ranger follows the 4,800dwt Scot Carrier launched last year and Scot Explorer (pictured above) which is due to be completed in November 2019. The third newbuild has a delivery scheduled for the end of 2020.

According to Scotline although of the same design, Scot Ranger will be certified to ice class 1A, enabling passage within Swedish and Finnish waters. This makes the new addition to the fleet of 14 vessels ideal for the operator's liner services out of the Baltic.

The Romford in Kent based operator primarily runs liner services throughout northern Europe with regular routes between Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Norway, the Baltic States and those serving the UK, Netherlands and France. 

Also in Kent, the forest-products operater exclusively has terminals and an office in Rochester on the river Medway and another site located at Inverness, Scotland.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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