On the waterfront: Four vessels on first port visit

Since last Saturday week another four vessels, tanker Challenge Procyon and container ships E.R Malmo, Antonia Schulte and MSC Nora, have added their names to the list of vessels visiting the port for the first time.

Youngest of the quartet is the Panama-flagged, 28.735gt, 45,996dwt tanker owned by Draco Maritime S.A. Painted in the colours of Japan's NYK group, it has only been in service for six months. The Shin Kurushima-built vessel was launched on October 20, 2010, and delivered on April 20.

E.R. Malmo is another of the Hyundai Mipo 2824teu design. The 28,927gt vessel went into service on July 1, 2005, as Kota Permai on charter to Pacific International Lines of Singapore. Last month it went back to its build name E.R. Malmo, and is operating on charter to Maersk's Tanjung Pelapas service.

From a historical point of view, the vessel's visit has special significance. It is the first to appear here displaying the markings of E.R. Schiffahrts GmbH & Cie K.G.

This group is one of two that can trace their origins back to June, 1834, when Rickmers Clasen Rickmers established a shipyard at Bremerhaven. Rickmers built their last ships, container vessels, in 1986.

Over the years, the Rickmers name has also been linked with ship-owning from the days of sail to today's container ships. It is now controlled by two fifth-generation brothers, Bertram and Erck Rickmers, who apparently went their separate ways due to differing views.

Bertram heads Rickmers Reederei, whose vessels' two-word names included the family name as a suffix. Since April, 2006, this group has been represented here by Aenne, Albert, Alexandra, Christa and Willi Rickmers on charter voyages.

Erck on the other hand names his ships by using the initials E.R. Like those from his brother's fleet, they are owned by single-ship companies and were built for the express purpose of chartering out. Both companies are headquartered at Hamburg.

Like E.R. Malmo, Antonia Schulte flies the Liberian flag and represents the Schulte interests of Hamburg. And for a change the 25,406gt, 2478teu comes from a German yard, the Aker MTW Werft one at Wismar.

They delivered the vessel on March 2, 2005, and it went into service as P&O Nedlloyd Mariana. Later in the year it was renamed Maersk Navia, and two years ago reverted to the build name Antonia Schulte.

The ship was chartered recently for employment on Mediterranean Shipping's Capricorn service. Also calling yesterday was the company-owned MSC Nora, which will be followed later this week by another newcomer, MSC Clementina.

Both vessels are 39,892gt, 3016teu and were bought by MSC two years ago. Built and engined by Hyundai at Ulsan, they were built for service under the ownership of Hyundai Investment Inc.

These sisters have followed similar courses since they were completed, MSC Nora in October, 1986, and MSC Clementina a month earlier.

Yesterday's visitor operated as Hyundai Explorer until 2002, then as P&O Nedlloyd Pusan for the next year before doing another stint as Hyundai Explorer. This lasted for three years before the vessel operated as Cosco Shekou until October, 2009.

Its sister ship commenced its career as Hyundai Innovator, and was renamed Sydney Star I in 2002. Then from 2003-06 it was trading again as Hyundai Innovator before spending the next three years as Cosco Chiwan.

 

 

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