Even for Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world's largest shipyard group, it was a remarkable occasion. In a quadruple naming ceremony at HHI's Ulsan shipyard on 2 July, Rickmers Group christened four ultra-large container ships (ULCS) of 13,100 TEU each.
MV "MAERSK EDINBURGH" (ex "PEARL RICKMERS") is the first ULCS of Rickmers Group which will enter service with charterer Maersk.
Each of the four ships, Pearl Rickmers, Ruby Rickmers, Aqua Rickmers and Coconee Rickmers, has a service speed of 24.3 knots. They have been chartered longterm to Maersk Line and will join Maersk's "E-class" as Maersk Edinburgh, Maersk Emden, Maersk Eindhoven and Maersk Essen.
The ships will be delivered one by one during July and August 2010, and phase in to Maersk's new joint service with CMA CGM linking Asia and North Europe. As Maersk's AE8 service, it will deploy ten ships of this size, each partner contributing five. The port rotation will be:
Ningbo - Shanghai - Yantian - Tanjung Pelepas - Port Kelang - Le Havre - Hamburg - Rotterdam - Zeebrugge - Port Kelang - Singapore - Ningbo.
A further four sister ships are due for delivery to the Rickmers Group in 2011, also for charter to Maersk Line. All have been fixed for 10-year periods with further options.
Under the watchful eyes of Bertram R C Rickmers, Chairman of Rickmers Holding, and his senior management team, each ship was christened by its individual sponsor: Pearl Rickmers by Mrs Nina Ruge; Ruby Rickmers by Mrs Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello; Aqua Rickmers by Mrs Vigga Schneider; and Coconee Rickmers by Mrs Marita Seidt
Source pes.eu.com
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Andrew
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Topic: Quadruple naming ceremony held for new Maersk 13000teu Vessels (Read 4386 times)