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Displaying items by tag: Bulkers

#DublinBay - Two bulk-carriers currently anchored off Bulloch Harbour in Dublin Bay, one from South America, the other from mainland Europe, both await docking in the capital's port, but exactly at the same basin berth, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The larger of the bulkers, Luzon at 55,657dwt had sailed originally from Argentina from where the ship loaded agricultural products, however the near 190m vessel had recently first called to Belfast Harbour. Upon completion of a part-cargo discharged in the Ulster port, the bulker made the short passage down through the Irish Sea to Dublin Bay. 

Later today, the Liberian flagged Luzon is due to dock in Dublin Port around midnight at Alexandra Basin to discharge the remains of the cargo. The dry-bulk / break bulk common user facility in the basin along Alexandra Quay West is located adjacent to the large silos of the disused Odlums Flour Mill, having closed in 2012.

Afloat will have more to report on plans for the former flour building which dominates the port's largest basin located east of the entertainment venue, the Three Arena. Previously, known as The Point Theatre housed in the original building from where a former port-related railway depot existed.

The 2010 built bulker Luzon is just a year younger of the second bulker, Arklow Manor, of 14,990dwt, which is the leadship of six 'M ' class bulkers built in 2009 at the Mokpo Shipbuilding Ind. Co., Korea. The 134m bulker had sailed from the French inland Port of Caen in Normandy, reached via the Canal de Caen à la Mer, which links to Ouistreham, 15 kms downstream, on the English Channel.

At Ouistreham is where a terminal custom-built for Brittany Ferries opened in the mid-1980's to operate a route to Portsmouth, UK, served currently by Normandie and Mont St. Michel. On an occasion involving a ferry and related taxi trip to Caen, a fleeting glimpse of a distinctive green hulled Arklow Shipping 'R' class 4,933dwt cargoship shortsea trader was spotted in the Port de Commerce de Caen-Ouistreham.

The recent call of the 'M' class fleetmate to Caen reflects the range in dwt, though ASL have larger bulkers, representing the biggest ships of the fleet and under the Irish flag with the 'S' class pair each of 34,905dwt.  The older of the pair, just over a year ago Arklow Spirit made a maiden call to the capital port. The deepsea bulker having anchored previously in Dublin Bay along with the smaller Arklow Marsh, another sister of the six-strong M class bulkers dating to 2010. 

On completion of discharging Luzon in Dublin Port, two days later at the exact berth (No.30) is where Arklow Manor has been allocated to dock. Over the years Afloat has reported on the facility in Alexandra Basin in handling animal feed, fertiliser and grain.

A sister, Arklow Meadow (see, coverage/photo incl. old Oldlums Mill) had dry-docked in the State's then largest such facility (220m) until the marine business operator was forced to close in 2016, due to plans by Dublin Port Company to in-fill the dry dock. This is to facilitate increased quayside capacity for the €227m Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project, phase one of the Port's Masterplan. The project permits larger cargoships and cruiseships to enter and meet the demands expected in the future of the capital's port.

As alluded before the distinctive green hulls of the ASL fleet, however the vast majority of bulkers use black, blue, grey and red. In design terms, Luzon's five cargoholds are equipped with cranes mounted between the hatches. Whereas, Arklow Manor with one less cargohold, is dependent on port handling grabber cranes that scoup and dump whatever traded cargo is carried.

Published in Dublin Bay

Maritime Management is seeking a Crew Manager for their fleet of bulk, reefer and exploration vessels. Previous experience in a similar role is important. The position requires English as the working language but if you are multi-lingual, especially Russian, this will be an advantage. All applicants must have an EU working entitlement. For further information and contact details logon HERE.

In 2002 Maritime Management was founded and is a supplier of services to the international maritime and shipping industry in Ireland, particularly those companies who are looking at Ireland as a base for their maritime operations. The company's primary services are ship management, maritime consultancy and marine surveying.

For further information about Maritime Management logon to www.bmml.ie

Published in Jobs

Howth 17 information

The oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world is still competing today to its original 1897 design exclusively at Howth Yacht club.

Howth 17 FAQs

The Howth 17 is a type of keelboat. It is a 3-man single-design keelboat designed to race in the waters off Howth and Dublin Bay.

The Howth Seventeen is just 22ft 6ins in hull length.

The Howth 17 class is raced and maintained by the Association members preserving the unique heritage of the boats. Association Members maintain the vibrancy of the Class by racing and cruising together as a class and also encourage new participants to the Class in order to maintain succession. This philosophy is taken account of and explained when the boats are sold.

The boat is the oldest one-design keelboat racing class in the world and it is still racing today to its original design exclusively at Howth Yacht club. It has important historical and heritage value keep alive by a vibrant class of members who race and cruise the boats.

Although 21 boats are in existence, a full fleet rarely sails buy turnouts for the annual championships are regularly in the high teens.

The plans of the Howth 17 were originally drawn by Walter Herbert Boyd in 1897 for Howth Sailing Club. The boat was launched in Ireland in 1898.

They were originally built by John Hilditch at Carrickfergus, County Down. Initially, five boats were constructed by him and sailed the 90-mile passage to Howth in the spring of 1898. The latest Number 21 was built in France in 2017.

The Howth 17s were designed to combat local conditions in Howth that many of the keel-less boats of that era such as the 'Half-Rater' would have found difficult.

The original fleet of five, Rita, Leila, Silver Moon, Aura and Hera, was increased in 1900 with the addition of Pauline, Zaida and Anita. By 1913 the class had increased to fourteen boats. The extra nine were commissioned by Dublin Bay Sailing Club for racing from Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire) - Echo, Sylvia, Mimosa, Deilginis, Rosemary, Gladys, Bobolink, Eileen and Nautilus. Gradually the boats found their way to Howth from various places, including the Solent and by the latter part of the 20th century they were all based there. The class, however, was reduced to 15 due to mishaps and storm damage for a few short years but in May 1988 Isobel and Erica were launched at Howth Yacht Club, the boats having been built in a shed at Howth Castle - the first of the class actually built in Howth.

The basic wooden Howth 17 specification was for a stem and keel of oak and elm, deadwood and frames of oak, planking of yellow pine above the waterline and red pine below, a shelf of pitch pine and a topstrake of teak, larch deck-beams and yellow pine planking and Baltic spruce spars with a keel of lead. Other than the inclusion of teak, the boats were designed to be built of materials which at that time were readily available. However today yellow pine and pitch pine are scarce, their properties of endurance and longevity much appreciated and very much in evidence on the original five boats.

 

It is always a busy 60-race season of regular midweek evening and Saturday afternoon contests plus regattas and the Howth Autumn League.

In 2017, a new Howth 17 Orla, No 21, was built for Ian Malcolm. The construction of Orla began in September 2016 at Skol ar Mor, the boat-building school run by American Mike Newmeyer and his dedicated team of instructor-craftsmen at Mesquer in southern Brittany. In 2018, Storm Emma wrought extensive destruction through the seven Howth Seventeens stored in their much-damaged shed on Howth’s East Pier at the beginning of March 2018, it was feared that several of the boats – which since 1898 have been the very heart of Howth sailing – would be written off. But in the end only one – David O’Connell’s Anita built in 1900 by James Clancy of Dun Laoghaire – was assessed as needing a complete re-build. Anita was rebuilt by Paul Robert and his team at Les Ateliers de l’Enfer in Douarnenez in Brittany in 2019 and Brought home to Howth.

The Howth 17 has a gaff rig.

The total sail area is 305 sq ft (28.3 m2).

©Afloat 2020