Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo carrier, said Tuesday it has increased its order of multipurpose newbuildings from 10 to 14.
The latest quartet has been ordered from Wuhu Xinlian Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. by Polaris Shipmanagement Ltd., a Rickmers Group company, and will be taken on long-term charter by Rickmers-Linie. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in December 2010 and all four should be in service by September 2011. The contract also includes an option for four additional vessels to be delivered in 2012.
"Since we launched our Round-the-World Pearl String service in 2003, demand for our scheduled liner services has grown rapidly, especially between Europe, India and the Middle East, Asia and North America," said Jan Boje Steffens, president and chief executive officer of Rickmers-Linie, in a statement. "These ships will enable us to meet our customers' demands for space on our existing routes and allow us to look at new routes in the future."
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