Kaethe C Rickmers News

Singapore-based Rickmers Trust Management (RTM), a trustee-manager of Rickmers Maritime,  is selling off a new ship from its fleet to ensure the company stays afloat. This means an impairment loss in the fourth quarter 2016. Rickmers has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the sale of Kaethe C. Rickmers, a Panamax containership. The vessel is securing senior loan facilities extended by HSH Nordbank AG, Singapore Branch and DBS Bank (the HSH Syndicate) to the trust (the HSH Facility). The net proceeds from the sale will be applied towards the payment of operating costs of the secured vessels under the HSH Facility and partial prepayment of the HSH Facility. The Trustee-Manager has also entered into a deed of consent with the HSH Syndicate to obtain their consent for the sale.

Today in the containership industry a landmark deal has occurred with the youngest ever containership sent for demolition by Rickmers Marine Trust. The vessel was a seven year old panamax boxship (4250 TEU, 2009 Blt, Built China). She is valued just above scrap at USD 5.87m. In 2016 the vessel fell 62% in value. This year the average change in value in the containership sector is -26% to put this figure in perspective. The main reason for this is that these vessels are becoming defunct now that the Panama Canal has been widened. Since 2 years before the first transit of the new locks which happened a couple of months ago, 2009 built Panamax containers dropped in value by two thirds.

Container ship owners & charterers out Rickmers Maritime describe a stable set of results in the first quarter of 2014. Charter revenue decreased slightly by 4% from the US$35.5 million reported for the first quarter ended 31 March 2013 to US$33.9 million, largely due to the redelivery of two vessels during the period. In the lead up to their new charters to Maersk Line, the two vessels, Henry Rickmers (formerly Ital Fastosa) and Richard Rickmers (formerly Ital Festosa) spent 19.7 days and 31.3 days respectively as at 31, March 2014 for preparation and positioning. In addition, the fleet incurred a total of 31.1 days of unscheduled off-hire, with Kaethe C. Rickmers incurring 20.0 days of off-hire due to engine problems. As a result, fleet utilisation for 1Q2014 fell to 94.3%.

Container ship owners and operators, Rickmers Trust Management, report a net loss of US$8.0 million in 4Q2013 and a lower net profit of US$23.5 million in FY2013, compared to net profits of US$2.2 million and US$27.6 million in 4Q2012 and FY2012 respectively due to a a US$2.4 million provision for vessel impairment was made for 'Kaethe C. Rickmers'. A goodwill impairment of US$18.4 million was also recognised in 4Q2013, up from US$2.1 million a year ago. Rickmers Maritime’s fleet of 16 containerships is fully chartered out on fixed-rate time charters.

Rickmers Maritime is a Singapore business trust formed to own and operate containerships under long-term, fixed-rate time charters to leading container liner companies. Achieved vessel utilisation rate of 99.9%; Kaethe C. Rickmers Maritime achieved an outstanding vessel utilisation rate of 99.9% in 3Q2013. Its fleet of 16 containerships is fully chartered out, all of which are on fixed-rate time charters with an average remaining charter period of 2.5 years. Moreover, the vessel Kaethe C. Rickmers’ charter to Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.

"As we close the 2012 books, we have every reason to be satisfied with the Trust’s positive results," says Rickmers chairman. Extracts from chairman, Bertram R.C. The business performed well operationally, with all sixteen [container] vessels generating strong revenues. Rickmers Maritime, being specifically structured around long-term fixed-rate time charter contracts, is largely insulated from the renewed pressure on time charter rates. The challenges to our industry are by no means over.