RICKMERS TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW MULTIPURPOSE SHIP

RICKMERS TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW MULTIPURPOSE SHIP    Rickmers, the Hamburg-based multipurpose shipping company, will take delivery today (Thursday) of the “Rickmers Hamburg,” the first of nine new vessels.
   Rickmers described the new series of ships, built in China, as “superflex heavy MPCs” — multipurpose container carriers. The 19.5-knot vessels have adjustable ‘tweendecks, and dehumidifying units to protect iron and steel cargoes from rust. Each vessel is equipped with four large cranes. These can be twinned for lifts of up to 640 tons.
   The Rickmers Hamburg’s first sailing will take the ship from Shanghai via Masan (South Korea) and Hitachi (Japan) to the East Coast of North America. The vessel is then expected to return to the Far East when it will join Rickmers’ round-the-world multipurpose service.
   The order for the nine ships was split between three shipbuilders in China. The Xiamen Shipyard is building five of the vessels, while the Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing is building two, including the Rickmers Hamburg. The remaining two ships are being built by the Shanghai Shipyard.
   Including the Rickmers Hamburg, four vessels will be delivered this year, and the final five are due for delivery throughout 2003.
   The second new ship in the series will be delivered to Rickmers in September.