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Displaying items by tag: Afloat Safety

#MCIB REPORT– A report investigating the grounding of the Arklow Raider (2007/2,999grt) at the mouth of the River Boyne in 2010, was published yesterday by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB).

The 89m general cargoship managed by Arklow Shipping Ltd had docked in Drogheda on 10th November to discharge a full cargo and this was followed by loading cement in bulk.

The Dutch built vessel remained in the Co. Louth port until she departed on the evening tide of the 16th November, however as the vessel passed the bar at the entrance to the River Boyne, it took to the ground and became fast.

The vessel was successfully re-floated on 19th November. Once afloat, checks were made and the vessel was towed to Dublin. At Dublin, the cargo was transhipped to another vessel and the vessel entered dry dock in the port for repairs to the hull and steering gear. Nobody was injured and no pollution occurred.

To read the report in full, copies in PDF format are available to download from the MCIB website HERE.

Published in MCIB

About Quarter Tonners

The Quarter Ton Class is a sailing class of the International Offshore Rule racing the Quarter Ton Cup between 1967 and 1996 and from 2005 until today.

The class is sailed by smaller keelboats of similar size and is likely the world's most-produced keelboat class.

The Ton, Half, Quarter, etc. 'classes' were each given a 'length' and yacht designers had almost free rein to work the hull shapes and measurements to achieve the best speed for that nominal length.

The Ton Rules produced cranky and tender boats without actual downwind speed. Measurement points created weird, almost square hull shapes with longish overhangs.

They were challenging to sail optimally and lost value very quickly as any new wrinkle (e.g. 'bustles') to take advantage of the rule made older boats very quickly uncompetitive.

Although its heyday was 30 years ago, the boat class continues to make its presence felt by holding its own in terms of popularity against some fern race fleets.