Ireland's newest cargoship Arklow Archer made a maiden call to Dublin Port marking the lastest of the A-series of bulk orientated dry-cargo vessels to be in Irish waters, writes Jehan Ashmore

Arklow Archer joins the fleet of Arklow Shipping Ltd engaged in transportation of cargoes, logistic project cargoes and offshore structures, offshore and landline pipes, bulk grain trades, dangerous bulk cargoes, steel rails, minerals, generals and containers.

The 8,543 tonne newbuild is the fourth of the six-ship series ordered by ASL now brings the fleet just shy of 60 vessels ranging between 4,900-34,900 tonnes. The latter category involve bulkers trading in deep-sea voyages beyond the familar sightings of the small to medium fleetmates serving in European waters.  

Likewise of Arklow's 'Ace', 'Accord' and 'Abbey' (leadship launched last year), they were all built by Ferus Smit in Leer, Germany. In addition, the 'A' series are all registered in the Co. Wickow port and the Irish tricolor flies proudly from the stern unlike a minority of the fleet numbering 17 ships managed by a Dutch subsidiary. 

Arklow Archer had sailed from the Baltic state of Lithuania and more specifically from the Port of Ventspils from where the vessel arrived in Dublin Bay on Tuesday morning of last week. The 120m newbuild has two cargo holds, the larger measuring 42m while the smaller forward hold accounts for 37m in length but both share the same width of 12.33 and a depth of 9.65m.

Afloat observed Arklow Archer take anchorage prior to making the inaugural call to the Irish capital. This week Arklow Archer having made that Dublin debut was next tracked to Gijon in northern Spain.

The Iberian link continues as Spanish operator Containerships, an affiliate of CMA CGM, whose 908 TEU capacity Aila which was also that day observed departing Dublin Port. The Finnish flagged ship was bound for the Port of Cork where the operator have added the port as part of it's weekly Ireland-Rotterdam service.

This intermodel service operated by this 142m ship connects Cork with Rotterdam with onward distribution across mainland Europe, but also further services covering ports in Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, the Baltic states in addition the Canary Islands and Morocco, Africa.

As for this week on the Monday evening the Aila returned to Dublin from Spain while the 707 TEU Arx departed. The latter vessel is unique to operator CLdN as it is the only containership in a fleet otherwise comprised of giant ro-ro freight ferries among them the Celine dubbed the 'Brexit-Buster'. Together this LoLo ship and RoRo fleetmates operate the Dublin-Zeebrugge-Rotterdam service ensuring direct Ireland-mainland Europe connections on a frequent basis.

Arx unlike the ro-ro fleet was acquired secondhand having been launched as Lupus 1 in 2005 and likewise of the ASL newbuild, was built also in Germany, but renamed C2C Lupus while firstly placed on charter to C2C Line operating by coincidence on the ship's same current Irish-Belgium route.

Two years later it was another name change as the containership emerged as C2C Australis, however this was only to be for three years before associate company, CLdN acquired the ship which was reflagged to Malta.

Arx also differs from the rest of the Luxembourg based CLdN whose ship naming theme is based on all vessels ending with the letters 'ine'. For example Delphine sister of Celine and Ysaline, a smaller version of the 'Brexit-busters' pair as this newer series was completed albeit with one less vehicle deck.

Afloat has tracked the newest Arklow Shipping 'A' class newbuild cargoship Arklow Archer which is currently under tow on a canal from a Dutch inland shipyard to a North Sea port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild Arklow Archer is a bulk oriented general cargo ship which was christened and launched last month at Westerbroek, near Groningen, and is currently under tow by the Waterpoort on the Ems Canal which links Delfzijl.

The port is located on the Ems Estuary which flows into the North Sea from where previous sea-trails take place with ASL newbuilds based in Delfzijl.

Arklow Archer is the first to carry this 'A' name in the ASL fleet. In addition the new cargoship is the fourth of six newbuilds in the class ordered by ASL to the German shipyard company of Ferus Smit which has a second shipyard located in Leer.

Due to Covid-19 health restrictions, the routine public viewing of ship launches at the Dutch shipyard was not an option when Arklow Archer was launched on 12th June.

During that week Ferus Smit was kept busy with not only the launch of the Arklow Archer but also the delivery of a sister Arklow Ace and the 'W' class Arklow Wood. The shipyard managment expressed their gratitude for the work and efforts by the shipyard workers during these extraordinary times.

Arklow Archer is based from a slightly modified version of the first series of 8600dwt bulkers that Ferus Smit built under the name of Arklow B – series. The design is adapted for iceclass 1A, with modified bow form and propulsion with a propeller nozzle added.

Another modification is that the main engine output was decreased to 2000 kW to enable for better fuel efficiency.

Likewise of the other 'A' class ships, the newbuild is registered at the shipowner's Co. Wicklow port and is Irish flagged.