The two multipurpose vessels chartered by Rickmers are the 8900dwt Sinar Kudus and 9100dwt Ardhianto, built in Japan in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Both ships have box-shaped holds and 'tweendecks. Shipboard cranes enable Sinar Kudus to lift individual pieces of cargo weighing up to 60 tons and Ardhianto 50 tons.
Under the terms of the two-year agreement with Samudera, the Indonesian line will deliver each vessel to Rickmers in North Europe after the end of its westbound Samudera voyage from Asia. Rickmers will then load the vessels for eastbound voyages to the Middle East and India, redelivering them to Samudera after discharging at ports in the Mumbai/Chennai range. They will then re-load for Samudera in South-East Asia for Europe, thus completing the cycle.
Rickmers has commented before on the lack of modern multipurpose/heavylift tonnage available on the charter market and has initiated its own newbuilding program. It sees this deal with Samudera as being a rare opportunity to bring relatively new tonnage to the Middle East/India trade, and believes it underlines its own long-term commitment to this booming region.
The first vessel to load for Rickmers under this new charter agreement will be Sinar Kudus in late August.
Schedule details for the Middle East/India service and company information are available on the Rickmers-Linie website: www.rickmers-linie.com.
