April 8 - Rickmers-Linie has added a new multipurpose heavy lift vessel to its fleet - the 19,100 dwt Pacific Winter.
Rickmers-Linie has taken the decision to charter the vessel in to its fleet. Pacific Winter is the sister vessel of Baltic Winter, originally chartered by Rickmers-Linie in December 2011. The shipping line has also decided to extend the existing charter arrangement on Baltic Winter.
The two vessels will be given Rickmers names. Pacific Winter will become Rickmers Chennai while Baltic Winter will be renamed Rickmers Dubai.
Compared to the 30,000 dwt vessels used on the Rickmers-Linie Round-the-World Pearl String service, the two new vessels are smaller giving them greater flexibility as they can call at ports where water depths, turning circles and berth lengths are restricted.
The two vessels come equipped with the greatest lift capacity of any vessel in the Rickmers-Linie fleet. Two 400-tonne cranes can be twinned to lift up to 800 tonnes. Each ship also has a 120-tonne crane onboard.
"With heavy out-of-gauge cargo, you need to get the cargo as close as possible to the ultimate destination as overland transportation is expensive and complicated. These vessels enable us to offer an increased choice in ports to our customers," explained Ulrich Ulrichs, Rickmers-Linie's chief operating officer and managing director.
Rickmers Chennai will begin her maiden voyage for Rickmers in mid-April when she commences a voyage to Europe via India and the Middle East from Singapore. Rickmers-Linie states that calls at any port en route can be considered.
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| Rickmers Chennai is the latest addition to the Middle East/India service of Rickmers-Linie. |
