On February 22 a special milestone was reached by the Rickmers Group with the delivery of the 4,900-vehicle capacity pure car/truck carrier (PCTC) 'Vany Rickmers' to its owners. She brings the Rickmers fleet up to 102 vessels.
The 100 ship mark was passed in December 2009 with the delivery of the 4,250TEU containership 'Tanja Rickmers', built at New Yangzijiang Shipyard against a very long term charter to Hanjin. She is now operating as 'Hanjin Duesseldorf' and was followed by her sister vessel 'Schliemi Rickmers' in early February 2010. With a similar charter contract, she is now operating as 'Hanjin Montevideo'.
'Vany Rickmers' has been chartered to Glovis, a company within the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, and is expected to operate from Asia to North and South America and to the Middle East. She was built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry in Xiamen, China and is powered by a single MAN-B&W 9S50MC-C diesel engine developing 14,420kW for a service speed of 20 knots at 90 percent MCR.
Rickmers does already have another car carrier in its fleet. 'Nora Rickmers', built in 1986 and acquired by Rickmers in 1999, sailing under the name 'Hyundai no 103'. She has also been chartered to Glovis in a package deal with a third car carrier, 'Cary Rickmers', a sister vessel of the 'Vany Rickmers', which is due to be delivered in May. Both newbuildings will be managed by Rickmers Shipmanagement (Singapore).
