Breakbulk News

Rickmers-Linie has named Waldemar “Val” Poulsen as president and CEO of Houston-based Rickmers-Linie (America), effective July 1.

Ron Widdows, the high-profile U.S. chief executive officer of Rickmers Group, will step down from his post tomorrow, May 1, the leading German shipowner announced today as it posted its 2013 results.

The market for breakbulk and heavy-lift ocean cargo is emerging from the doldrums it experienced last year. Although a backlog of global industrial projects carried the heavy-lift sector through 2012 and construction of new pipelines and wind farms in the U.S. filled inbound multipurpose breakbulk vessels that year, demand largely dried up in 2013. But the picture is brightening, and the market is positioned for a significant recovery in 2014 and 2015.

Rickmers Maritime Trust has established a Singapore $300 million (about US$240.5 million) corporate bond program to fund capital expenditure.

Rickmers Group is adding €75 million (about US$103.4 million) to its €175 million corporate bond issued in June.

Rickmers Group, the German shipowner, has established a joint venture with funds linked with U.S.-based Apollo Global Management to buy container ships.

Rickmers-Linie has added a 10th vessel on its eastbound round-the-world Pearl String Service, which connects Europe, Asia and North America, as part of its continuing investment program.

Rickmers-Linie has decided to charter into its fleet the 19,100 deadweight ton, 2012-built Pacific Winter.

Rickmers-Linie will expand its service at the Port of Philadelphia with the addition of a westbound service connecting Asia, South America and North America...

BBC Chartering & Logistic on Sept. 3 named Per Petersen president of BBC Chartering USA.