Four more for Rickmers

Four more 24,000dwt multi-purpose, heavy-lift vessels have been ordered for the global services of Rickmers-Linie by Rickmers Group company Polaris Shipmanagement from Chinese shipbuilder Guangzhou Wenchong.

Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for May 2011 and by December 2011 all four will be in service. This latest quartet brings to 18 the number of newbuildings now contracted in China for ultimate deployment in Rickmers-Linie?s worldwide network.

“Between December 2009 and December 2011, we will add altogether 18 vessels in three different sizes to our fleet. We will renew and expand our fleet substantially and will thus be able to meet the ever increasing demand of our customers for capacity for the carriage of project cargoes and heavy lifts.” said Jan Boje Steffens, President & CEO of Rickmers-Linie.

“Upon completion of this expansion programme, we will have one of the most modern fleets operating in the global heavy lift/project liner trades.” The latest newbuildings ordered are identical to four vessels of the Superflex Mumbai Max Class to be built for Polaris by Wuhu Xinlian Shipbuilding, a contract that was announced last July. All eight have been purpose-designed for the carriage of breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo. With a deadweight of 24,000 tonnes, an overall length of 175m and a beam of 26.5m, they will be fitted with variable height tween-decks for maximum cargo flexibility. Each vessel will be equipped with three cranes, one capable of lifting 120 tonnes and two 350 tonne units that can be combined to handle loads of up to 700 tonnes.