#LaunchCountdown – Arklow Shipping will look forward to the first of 10 Dutch built newbuild cargoships which will be named and launched next week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The joint ceremony is to take place at the Royal Bodewes ‘‘Jachtwijk’ yard in Hoogezand, from where Afloat has reported on the completion of both the fore and aft sections that where joined together last month.

The Bodewes yard located in the Groningen region, is less than 2kms to the east of Westerbroek, from where on the same waterway Arklow Shipping had ordered six 8,660dwt ‘S’ series from Ferus Smit’s Dutch based yard. The final newbuild, Arklow Breeze was launched in March.

As for Arklow Vale she represents the first completed hull of Bodewes 5,100dwt Trader series.

This new series for Arklow Shipping will feature an energy-saving bow form with its distinctive straight-stem and slanted upper structure to deflect waves.

Each of the newbuilds will have a hold capacity of 221,000 cbft and a gross tonnage of below 3,000.

When the outfitting of the newbuild is completed she will be added to the ASL fleet. The company also has a Dutch division based in Rotterdam.