#ShipSold - As Arklow Shipping continue a shipbuilding spree to replace ageing tonnage, one of their oldest ‘R’ class short-sea cargoships has been disposed, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Built in 2002 the Arklow Rose of 2,999 gross tonnage which as previously reported on Afloat.ie was at Cork Dockyard, Rushbrooke, part of the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG), has since been renamed Celtic Venture.

Of the near 50 strong joint Irish-Dutch flagged fleet (that includes deepsea bulkers), the 90m Arklow Rose was registered in Rotterdam where ASL’s division, Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. is located.

The cargoship has transferred flag to the UK for owners, Charles M. Willie & Co. (Shipping) Ltd of Cardiff, Wales. The shipowner, managers and charterer company was established in 1912 with origins as coal exporters and timber (pit props) importers.

Having been alongside Cork Dockyard’s layby quay since 20 August, the vessel has re-entered the graving dock yesterday and where among the work been carried out is on the propeller blades.

Also confirmed with the new owners in that a former Celtic Venture in March was sold to Turkish owners. Afloat.ie has monitored the vessel this week in the Mediterranean which sails as Tahsin Imamoglu with a port of registry in Istanbul.

In between Arklow Rose drydocking and her return under a new name, was the Naval Service flagship HPV LE Eithne (P31) which vacated the facility also yesterday.