Rickmers Genoa Completes Series

The phasing-in period of Rickmers-Linie's new fleet of nine Superflex Heavy MPC vessels and a series of naming ceremonies have concluded with the christening ceremony of Rickmers Genoa, which took place in her namesake port of Genoa, Italy on Wednesday evening, May 12, 2004. Mrs Nucci Novi Ceppellini, Vice President of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and wife of Dr Giovanni Novi, President of the Port of Genoa, acted as godmother of the vessel, currently on her maiden voyage around the world. The naming ceremony took place at Ponte Canepa, centrally located in the Port of Genoa. More than 120 guests celebrated the event with a dinner at Palazzo del Principe. Palazzo del Principe is one of Genoa's most remarkable buildings and was completed around 1533, its construction having taken approximately 100 years. Tour guides introduced the guests to the magnificent interior decorations, which were originally commissioned by Andrea Doria, one of the most influential characters in Italian history, thus making the Palazzo a very special location for this event. The christening of Rickmers Genoa marks a unique point in the history of the Rickmers company as it is the ninth and final vessel to be built for Rickmers-Linie's Round-The-World Pearl String fleet. The ship was delivered by the Xiamen shipyard on 15 March 2004 and after a westbound positioning voyage, she was phased into the Pearl String Service in Antwerp on 24 April. Being a Superflex Heavy MPC vessel, Rickmers Genoa, like her eight sisters, is equipped with flexible tweendecks, dehumidifying devices in all holds and a maximum lifting capacity of up to 640 tons. As such she is one of the most advanced vessels of her type on the market. With the fleet complete, the Round-The-World Pearl String Service is now fully operational. Genoa is one of the main ports called on this fortnightly liner service, as it connects the main industrial centres of the world on an eastbound rotation. The Rickmers vision of a new service concept - the first liner service for project and heavylift cargo - together with a whole new fleet, has become a reality and has already proven to be a successful formula.