Rickmers-Linie takes shares in Wallmann & Co.

Rickmers-Linie and the terminal operator Wallmann & Co are to extend their cooperation in the port of Hamburg. Rickmers-Linie will take a share of 25.1% in the Wallmann Terminal as of January 1, 2008.

With this partnership, Rickmers-Linie secures for itself terminal capacity for handling breakbulk, heavylift and project cargo in its home territory. Wallmann & Co handles vessels employed in Rickmers’ Round-The-World Pearl String Service with twice-monthly sailings to Asia, as well as ships departing to and from the Middle East and India every three weeks.

The cooperation with Wallmann dates back to the year 1991, when Rickmers-Linie started its service to the Middle East. Vessels employed in the Pearl String Service have been calling at the Wallmann Terminal since the beginning of 2003.

Last month Rickmers-Linie announced that it will inaugurate a joint terminal venture with DP World and Conti-Lines in Antwerp under the name DP World Breakbulk NV effective from January 1, 2008.

"Wallmann has been the preferred terminal for Rickmers-Linie since 2003", explains Wolfgang Harms, Director of Operations for Rickmers-Linie. "With this cooperation, we would like to further enhance our partnership and increase the level of service we offer our customers. For many ports, the focus in terms of investment is on facilities for container handling. Our strategy therefore is to safeguard know-how and access to handling facilities for breakbulk and project cargo through joint ventures."

"We are very pleased about Rickmers' plans" commented Hans-Dieter Wilde, Managing Director at Wallman & Co. "This long-term cooperation with one of our main clients means we will be able to plan ahead and make investments in the interesting market of the handling of breakbulk for the benefit of all customers shipping non-containerised cargo. "