Rickmers Group Bolsters Its Bulk Carrier Management

Hamburg-based Rickmers Shipmanagement GmbH & Cie. KG has been awarded with the technical shipmanagement, including the provision of crew, for a fleet of seven supramax bulk carriers. 

The vessels concerned are operated in world-wide tramp services, that is without a fixed schedule. They will be taken over by Rickmers Shipmanagement and gradually join the managed fleet starting from April 1, 2015, the company said.

 Rickmers Shipmanagement takes over the responsibility for the vessels with regards to the International Safety Management (ISM) and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Codes as well.

“With these bulker carriers, Rickmers Group enhances its capacity as third party manager and increases the number of non-box ships, contributing to the diversification of the managed fleet. The step further emphasizes the Group’s return into the bulk business,” the company said in a release.

Just recently Rickmers’ 50% joint venture Harper Petersen took over the exclusive chartering for 21 bulk carriers, thereby positioning itself as a player in bulk business once again.

“We now manage box ships as well as multipurpose vessels, car carriers and bulk carriers. After Harper Petersen just recently returned to the chartering, sales and purchase of bulkers, we as Rickmers Group are now involved in both commercial and technical management for those ships, thereby expanding our area of business and strengthening our market position,” Ignace Van Meenen, CEO Rickmers Group, pointed out.

Image: Hamburg Hafen