Arklow Backs Lengthened Dutch Design

First-of-class in the seven-vessel programme, Arklow Racer entered the European short-sea trade earlier this year, and the second of the 105m newbuilds, Arklow Rally, is being readied for delivery following her April launching by contractor Royal Bodewes.

Arklow Racer embodies the highest-capacity version to date of the Eco Trader design range conceived by Royal Bodewes, offered in many different configurations and customisation options. The Eco Trader 6800 type is a two-hold carrier for general cargo and bulk commodities, providing an underdeck intake of some 310,000ft³ and an efficiency level that reflects the target sector’s uncompromising competitive conditions.

While retaining the 15m breadth of the single-hold Eco Trader 5150 type, 10 of which are represented in the Arklow fleet as the V-class, the new variant is 18m longer, achieving an increase of about 89,000ft³ in cargo capacity.

The 5150-designated Arklow Vale-series was produced by Royal Bodewes between 2015 and 2018, and each vessel employs a 1,740kW MaK 6M25C medium-speed diesel. The MaK engine has been retained for the new 6,885dwt Arklow Racer class, thereby securing a substantial advance in both deadweight and cubic for the same fuel consumption and comparable speed.

The R-type’s 1,768kW MaK diesel drives a Berg controllable pitch propeller through a Renk reduction gearbox, and the arrangements allow the ship to make 11 knots or more in a laden state. Following the decision of the Caterpillar Group to terminate MaK engine production, various alternatives at the equivalent power level are available for future Eco Trader 6800 newbuilds, such as units from the ABC, Wartsila and Yanmar medium-speed portfolios. One option is ABC’s DZC engine in eight-cylinder format, rated for an output of 1,768kW at 1,000rpm, to incorporate the same driveline as that employed in the Arklow Racer.

For manoeuvring at restricted berths and in narrow channels, the navigators have recourse to a 300kW bow thruster.

The cargo section of the Eco Trader 6800 is made up of a larger (183,242ft³) No2 hold, and smaller(126,932ft³) No1 hold, equipped with removable grain bulkheads, and accessed through hatchways covered by pontoon-type panels handled by a special, rail-mounted gantry crane running the length of the main deck. The cargo spaces’ ventilation system gives six air changes per hour and the tank top is strengthened to take 15t/m². Above-deck shipments are facilitated by hatch cover scantlings allowing for a loading of 2.35t/m².

The delivery programme extends into 2024, whereby Arklow Racer and Arklow Rally will be followed by Arklow Ranger, Arklow Resolve, Arklow Rose and Arklow Rover.

Parallel to the emergence of the R-class, the Arklow fleet is being augmented by another series of singledeckers from the industry clustered on the Winschoterdiep waterway in Groningen Province. In the company’s latest contract with Ferus Smit, five 87.4m vessels of 5,150dwt have been booked from the Westerbroek yard. The newly-commissioned Arklow Gem has given first form to the series, with second-of-class Arklow Glen to be launched on June 16.

MAIN PARTICULARS – Arklow Racer