June 12 - A landmark anniversary for the Rickmers group of companies, including heavy lift liner shipping company Rickmers-Linie, is being marked by a family celebration and an international business symposium.

Today, the 175th anniversary of Rickmers founding in Hamburg is being celebrated by an economic symposium bringing leading economic professors from around the world to examine ways to overcome the global crisis.

This evening, Hamburg mayor Ole von Beust is to host a reception for the Rickmers brothers and their anniversary guests in the banquet hall at Hamburg's City Hall after which more than 50 family members and 400 invited guests will celebrate the special day at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. The German Shipping Museum in Bremerhaven is presenting a special exhibition on the family until January 2010.

Since 2000, fifth generation Bertram Rickmers has bought back the family firm Rickmers-Linie from Hapag-Lloyd and inaugurated its round-the-world Pearl String service which caters for the carriage of general, heavy lift and project cargoes.