Hamburg, Germany: The Rickmers family celebrated 175 years in the shipping business on June 12.
Currently, the fifth generation of the family runs two independent groups of companies: Bertram and Erck Rickmers.
The festivities were held under the theme, "One family, two companies", began with a symposium of professors from international universities.
The Mayor of Hamburg, Ole von Beust, hosted a reception for the Rickmers brothers and their guests at the Hamburg City Hall banquet hall.
Hoffman und Campe will publish a chronicle on the Rickmers family to mark the founding of the Rickmers Shipyard 175 years ago. Furthermore, the German Shipping Museum in Bremerhaen will host a special exhibition from June 20, 2009 to January 17, 2010.