Iran to Build Four Cargo Ships for German Firm

According to the Mena Report, Iran's shipbuilding company Sadra Group will build four cargo ships, worth 100 million euros, for the north German-based Rickmers shipping lines, it was reported on Saturday. The newbuildings have been purpose-designed for the carriage of breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo. With a deadweight of 24,000 tonnes, an overall length of 175m and a beam of 26.5m, they will be fitted with variable height tweendecks for maximum cargo flexibility. Indivisible heavy lift cargoes will be handled by two 350-tonne cranes that will have the facility to be twinned for handling loads of up to 700 tonnes. The ships are to be used for freight transport from Europe and the US to the Middle East as well as to Pakistan and India. Sadra Group is a sister company of Iran's state-owned Iran Shipbuilding and Offshores Industries Complex Co. (ISOICO). Germany's Rickmers shipping lines which owns more than 55 vessels with a total capacity of over 1.4 million tons, was founded in 1866.