Displaying items by tag: Newbuild Arklow View

23rd February 2016

Newest Arklow 'Eco-Trader' Takes to Waters for First Sea Trials

#FirstSeaTrials – Newest addition to Arklow Shipping’s Dutch division, Arklow View with her distinctive green hull took to open waters this morning to carry out her first sea trials, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow View with a yard no. of 722 had departed Delfzijl in north-eastern Netherlands to carry out the seatrials off Eemshaven. At time of writing, she was underway with a speed in excess of 12 knots.

The 2,999 gross tonnes Arklow View is based at the Ems estuary port for the trials, but in fact this second in a series of 10 general cargoships was built further inland at Hoogezand near Groningen. Only last month, leadship, Arklow Vale (see photo) made a maiden call to Dublin Port.

The yard responsible for this large order from Arklow Shipping was contracted to Royal Bodewes which is building to their Eco Trader 5,000dwt class series.

The near 87m long vessels or ‘V’ class given their ship naming theme have a single cargo hold and an energy efficient bow. The sisters fly the Dutch flag with a port of registry in Rotterdam, where Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. are based.

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour