Rickmers-Linie adds four vessels to 2010-2011 order

Rickmers-Linie adds four vessels to 2010-2011 order Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo carrier, said Tuesday it has increased its order of multipurpose newbuildings from 10 to 14.
   The latest quartet has been ordered from Wuhu Xinlian Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. by Polaris Shipmanagement Ltd., a Rickmers Group company, and will be taken on long-term charter by Rickmers-Linie. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in December 2010 and all four should be in service by September 2011. The contract also includes an option for four additional vessels to be delivered in 2012.
   'Since we launched our Round-the-World Pearl String service in 2003, demand for our scheduled liner services has grown rapidly, especially between Europe, India and the Middle East, Asia and North America,' said Jan Boje Steffens, president and chief executive officer of Rickmers-Linie, in a statement. 'These ships will enable us to meet our customers' demands for space on our existing routes and allow us to look at new routes in the future.'

A computer-generated image depicting one of Rickmers-Linie’s new 24,000 dwt multipurpose heavy lift vessels discharging cargo onto a barge while at anchor offshore.

   The newbuildings have been purpose-designed for the carriage of breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo, with a capacity of 24,000 deadweight tons, length of 175 meters and beam of 26.5 meters. The vessels will also be equipped with three cranes, one capable of lifting 100 tons and two 350-ton units that can be combined to handle loads of up to 700 tons.