Zeaborn Takes Over Rickmers-Linie

Published Feb 10, 2017 5:44 PM by The Maritime Executive

Zeaborn Group, established in 2013, will takeover of the business operations and the international organization of breakbulk specialist Rickmers-Linie.

The deal includes NPC Projects, formerly known as Nordana Project and Chartering, which became a part of Rickmers Group last year, and offers a global heavy lift tramp service.

Zeaborn is also acquiring the business operations of MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting, a bunker and chartering broker.

“With the growth of our fleet, we were faced with the challenge of building a global organization. Everyone who knows the shipping industry knows that this is a very challenging task in our time. In this respect, it’s a fortune for our development that Rickmers-Linie was available at the right time,” said Jan Hendrik Többe, Managing Partner of Zeaborn.

Together, Zeaborn and Rickmers-Linie (with NPC and MCC) have a team of close to 200 employees and a combined fleet of about 50 multi-purpose vessels, with deadweight capacities between 7,500 and 30,000 tons and a combined lifting capacity of up to 700 tons.

“Just like us, Rickmers-Linie and NPC Projects are concentrating on the transport of break bulk, heavy lifts and project cargoes,” says Ove Meyer, who is also Managing Partner of Zeaborn. “With its line-up services and the tramp business of NPC, Rickmers-Linie connects the most important business centers in the world.”

Rickmers-Linie has offices in Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S.

The sale of Rickmers-Linie will have no impact on the workforce, shipping routes or tonnage under long-term charter, Rickmers said.

The contracts were signed on February 7. The execution of the transaction is subject to antitrust clearance.