The project forwarder deugro Projekt GmbH and Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based shipping line that specializes in transporting breakbulk, heavylift and project cargoes, has recently completed the transport of a major project shipment on behalf of Linde Engineering for two air separation facilities being constructed in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to a number of smaller breakbulk shipments, there were four large pieces of cargo - two reactors and two air coolers ' loaded on board Rickmers Jakarta in Bremen on 6 January 2007. Measuring 61.26m x 6.52m x 6.45m, the air coolers were loaded on deck above hold nos 2 & 3.

Precarriage was effected by barge and trucks to Bremen, where the 2004-built Rickmers Jakarta took over. Being destined for two different projects, part of the cargo was consigned to Yanbu and the remainder to Al Jubail. On-carriage to the respective construction sites was organized by deugro.

The air separation facilities are being built by Linde Engineering for the National Gas Company of Saudi Arabia and are due to start production at the beginning of 2008.

Rickmers Jakarta and her eight sister ships are deployed on Rickmers' Round-The-World Pearl String Service, which offers fortnightly eastbound voyages connecting the industrial centers of Europe, Asia and America. Their high service speed allows for deviations to additional ports en route, as in this case Sohar, while still maintaining schedule integrity. Further, Rickmers-Linie operates a monthly liner service from Europe to the Middle East/Indian Subcontinent and vice versa, as well as a monthly westbound liner service from the US East Coast to North China, South Korea and Japan. The company currently operates 17 owned and chartered multipurpose vessels on its routes.