Despite grey clouds, the sun was out too during the launch of Arklow Rose this morning, which was a spectacle that the locals of a Dutch shipyard clearly enjoyed watching, writes Jehan Ashmore.

A blast from the Royal Bodewes shipyard launched the ship transversely into the waterway, generating consequential wash, which saw tugs fore and aft bob about. All this adds to the drama.

Arklow Rose is now the penultimate of seven 6,800 deadweight (dwt) tons (‘R’ class) to enter the waterway at the shipyard in Martenshoek. Like the rest of the series, it has a cargo hold capacity of 310.000 cubic feet and a service speed of 11 knots.

The 105-metre-long overall (LOA) vessel built for Arklow Shipping Ltd., marks another proud day for the Irish Ship Registrar, with the dry bulk cargo ship showing at its stern the east coast shipowner's homeport.

Also, at the stern (starboard quarter), can be seen the support frame structure where the free-fall lifeboat will occupy its cradle position.

This latest launch follows Arklow Resolve, which took place in January, and sea trials in the North Sea, which occurred in March, necessitating a tow of the newbuild from the inland yard to the Ems Estuary.

Arklow Rose takes its name from a previous vessel, which represented the first of 16 short-sea traders built from 2002. Likewise, the newbuilds were all Dutch-built but from the yard of Barkmeijer Strooboos. As Afloat reported, only two such ships of this series remain in service.

During the video(s) footage of Arklow Rose, when it pans to the left, note that in the bottom corner there is a superstructure showing the bridge and a funnel (on its side) with the ASL crest clearly visible. 

This is invariably the final Eco-Trader of this series, which Afloat shall look forward to featuring.