Rickmers-Linie is to take delivery of two 20,000dwt newbuildings in 2015, built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China. The multi-purpose 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. The ships will be delivered between January and March 2015 and will be known in the Rickmers fleet as PX-900-type.
While the design is based on Rickmers P1/P2 Type, they will have improved technical specifications, which mean substantial reductions in fuel consumption. The high-efficiency propeller and rudder, together with optimised hull form, will enable the new ships to achieve a speed of 16.5 knots while using much less power. Rickmers have not yet determined on which routes these vessels will be placed. At the moment the Rickmers-operated Baltic Winter can lift only 800 tonnes in a single lift. RC
