#GreenNewbuild - Arklow Bay was launched by a Dutch shipyard on Friday, she is the second newbuild of six 'B'class 4,800dwt multi-purpose cargoships on order to Arklow Shipping Ltd, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The amidships or sideways launch of the vessel was carried out at Ferus Smit's second shipyard outside, Germany, at Westerbroek in the Netherlands. The 119m long leadship follows leadship Arklow Bank which was launched in January.

Next month the newbuild is due to be delivered to ASL's Dutch division Arklow Shipping N.V. based in Rotterdam from where she will be registered.

She has a slender hull form to optimise her 'green' credentials and a 'bulb-less' principle, where Arklow Bay will give better performance while not compromising on load capacity.

The design is a bulk oriented general cargo ship that will be mainly employed in the shipment of wheat, corn and other bulk commodities in European waters.