The former saltwater cargo vessel ARKLOW WILLOW was acquired by McKeil Marine in mid-2016 from Arklow Shipping Co. of Wicklow, Ireland, and renamed FLORENCE SPIRIT in honor of the wife of McKeil Marine founder Evans McKeil.
Built in 2004 at Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation, Shimonoseki, Japan, the 136-metre (447 feet, 7 inches) by 21-metre (69 feet, 7 inches) general cargo vessel is capable of carrying 13,500 metric tonnes. With four cargo holds and cement loading ports, she is a versatile vessel with an operating draft of 8.3 metres (27.5 feet).
Trading predominantly between the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes, the vessel carries powdered cement and raw materials for the cement industry, amongst other bulk cargoes.
Written by Roger LeLievre.
| Ship Particulars | |
| Length | 447′ 07″ (136.43m) |
| Beam | 69′ 07″ (21.21m) |
| Depth | 37′ 01″ (11.3m) |
| Midsummer Draft | 27′ 05″ (8.35m) |
| Capacity | 14,650 tons |
| Engine Power | 13,988 bhp diesel |
| Previous Names | |
| Arklow Willow | 2004 – 2016 |
| Florence Spirit | 2016 – Today |