Germany’s RMS Projects is teaming up with Chinese partners to develop a series of up to 10 multipurpose (MPP) and heavylift newbuildings.

The Hamburg-based company will commercially manage a fleet of vessel to be built for logistics and energy equipment provider China International Marine Containers (CIMC).

The first of six 14,000-dwt units to be built at CIMC’s own facilities will be delivered in 2024.

The remaining four will be delivered in 2025.

The vessels are optimised for the carriage of project cargo for on- and offshore industry, according to RMS.

They will be equipped with two 250 metric tonne cranes capable of lifting 500 tonnes.

The vessels will be classed by DNV and will have 1A ice class notation.

Prices is not known, but 12,500-dwt newbuilds with similar lifting capacity are costing close to $30m each, according to Toepfer Transport assessments.

Steady growth

RMS Projects was formed in April 2021 when Rhenus Maritime Services (RMS) bought 60% of Arkon Shipping & Projects (AKS).

The remaining shares are owned by AKS co-founder and managing director Thomas Cord.

The head office of the company has since moved from Haren an der Ems to Hamburg.

The company currently runs a fleet of 19 multipurpose heavylift cargo vessels and one small bulker.

The newbuilding project comes at a time when very few MPP orders are being placed, barring a handful of orders by German and Dutch owners.

Hamburg-based United Heavy Lift (UHL) recently ordered two more 17,000-dwt MPP vessels of the F900 design at Hudong Wenchong Shipbuilding.

These are said to be costing in the region of $45m each and will add to UHL’s series of 17 vessels in operation.

Similarly, Leer-based Briese Schiffahrt purchased another two F500-type MPP and heavylift units at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in March.

The 12,500-dwt vessels reportedly costing close to $30m each with delivery slated for 2023 and 2024.

Dutch owner Wagenborg Shipping ink a deal with Royal Niesten Sander Shipyard for a third, 14,000-dwt multipurpose vessel of the Easymax design.

The vessel is for delivery in the first half of 2023, and includes an option for a fourth.