Rickmers-Linie Orders Pair of Multi-Purpose Break Bulk Ships

Baltic Winter, a 20k DWT multi-purpose vessel, image courtesy Rickmers-Linie

Rickmers-Linie announced today their plans to build a pair of 20,000 DWT multi-purpose break bulk vessels at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China.  Scheduled for delivery in 2015, both vessels will be equipped with two 450-tonne cranes and one 120-tonne crane. The two main cranes will enable them to load up to 900 tonnes in a single lift.

These ships were originally planned for the now defunct Beluga Shipping and will be constructed according to requirements set forth by Rickmers-Linie.

Construction supervision and technical management will be the responsibility of Rickmers Shipmanagement while asset and commercial management will be undertaken by Rickmers Reederei. The ships will  be delivered between January and March 2015.

According to Ulrich Ulrichs, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Rickmers-Linie, the new ships will be known in the Rickmers fleet as PX-900-type vessels.

“While the design is based on the P1/P2 Type, the Rickmers Group is working with the yard to develop a more efficient design to reflect current market needs. Significantly improved technical specifications will lead to a substantial reduction in fuel consumption. The optimised hull form and a high efficiency propeller and rudder will enable the new ships to achieve an operating speed of 16.5 knots while using considerably less power and being optimised for slower speeds operating down to 10% MCR.

“We have not yet determined on which new routes these vessels will be placed. Bearing in mind that the current multi-purpose and heavy lift order book shows that deliveries from 2015 onwards are very few, we are confident that there will be strong market requirements for these excellent vessels.”

Vessel particulars

• LOA                                       170.90m
• LBP                                        160.50m
• Breadth                                25.20m
• Draft to main deck              13.85m
• Service speed                      16.5 knots
• Main engine                        MAN B&W 6S46

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