Zeaborn Group, established in 2013, sets a further milestone in the company's development with the takeover of the business operations and the international organization of Rickmers-Linie, including NPC Projects. In addition to the business of Rickmers-Linie, ZEABORN also takes over the business operations of MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting, which is active as bunker and chartering broker. The corresponding contracts between the Rickmers Group and Zeaborn were signed on 7 February 2017. The execution of the transaction is subject to antitrust clearance.

Rickmers-Linie is one of the world's most renowned companies in the field of ocean transportation of project cargo. In addition to the global liner services of Rickmers-Linie, NPC Projects is a perfect extension to the existing ZEABORN tramp business.

"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, "explains 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 (dwat) between 7,500 and 30,000 tonnes, and a combined lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes. "Just like us, Rickmers-Linie and NPC Projects are concentrating on the transport of break bulk, heavy lifts and project cargoes. They have an excellent reputation, have close, long-term customer relationships and stand for reliability, quality, innovation and technical competence. With its line-up services and the tramp business of NPC, Rickmers-Linie connects the most important business centers in the world. In this unique combination, we are now able to offer our customers even more tailor-made transport solutions, "adds Ove Meyer, who is also Managing Partner of ZEABORN.

"Rickmers-Linie gets new powerful shareholders who want to expand their activities in the MPP segment. With ZEABORN, we have the right partners to play an active part in the consolidation of the heavy and MPP sector in a currently difficult market situation, and to offer our customers excellent service, safety and reliability on an economically stable basis, "Ulrich Ulrichs, CEO of Rickmers-Linie, added.

With the takeover of the Rickmers-Linie offices in Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the USA, as well as the extensive agency network, the ZEABORN companies now have a global setup with a strong regional presence and local customer service. Mr Bertram R.C. Rickmers will be privately involved as a minority shareholder in the new owner company of the sold business activities.