Hi Torsten
Thanks for all the new info. and data you posted. Interesting.
I will update the new info. and details in the picture.
Thanks again.
My best regards.
Ventuari.

Hi again Juergen.
Exactly. Thanks a lot for the data and information.
My best regards.
Ventuari

Hi Henning
Thanks for the information. I think it's totally correct.
My best regards.
Ventuari

Great to see this picture!

I don't remember how many ships of this type had been built.
Fact is, for the time, as conventional cargo ships, they were quite well equipped with their two Stuelcken Heavy Cargo Gears. As far as I can remember (with a view only on German shipping companies), only HANSA had similar equipment on the run, but was mainly employed in Persia/Iran, a market that was soon going to collapse at that time (1979).

Coincidentally the containerization was exploding back then.
So these ships were to late for the mainstream liner shipping markets.

Rickmers already had good relations to China at that time, and there was the market for conventional cargo.

So the midparts of the quite newly built Hapag-Lloyd vessels were removed, sold to Rickmers and completed with new rear and bow sections. As a result Rickmers received some very capable ships.

The remaining aft and bow sections of Hapag-Lloyd received a mid part layed out for carrying containers.

It was far wider than the aft and bow sections, which did not only look funny, but caused quite a disastrous behaviour of the ships in bad weather conditions.

Keep on Rolling...

I happened to follow 'Bertram Rickmers' in convoy from Port Suez to Port Said in 1982 onboard 'Holsatia'.

That Rickmers vessel was quite a nice sight with the two heavy lift gears.

In 1983 I was on a trip to the US gulf area/Mexico on 'Ludwigshafen Express'.

The ship liked to roll quite a bit and had already experienced some heavy wash on the main deck which led to damage of the superstructure; the front and side windows were then welded up to prevent further ingress of water.

Quite a dog of a ship, but that was compensated by a fantastic crew.

Best regards,
Torsten

Sorry, looks really like ERLANGEN
Th midbody was scrapped later at Rickmers yard in Bremerhaven, also the midbody of the HOECHST

http://www.ddghansa-shipsphotos.de/sdm-11-09-omni-klasse100.htm

Rgds.
Juergen

Looks more like the midbody of "Erlangen" , the "Rest" of the ship was later MSC Mee May

Hi Jens.
Thanks for the comments.
Best regards.
Ventuari.
PS. Interesting indeed...almost 34 years ago...

Hi Holger.
Thanks for the info and data. And yes, you are correct. I remember the location between Bremerhaven and Bremen. I was in the bridge with the Weser river pilot and I take the picture from starboardside and we were inbound for Bremen. Exactly as you mention in the Weser river west bank and near to Bremer Vulkan in the East bank.
Interesting info. and waiting your help with the other Hapag ship's names. As I mention before ( in other post ) almost 34 years back...
I will keep the location as Bremerhaven but mentioning Motzen in the photo details.
Best regards.
Ventuari

Hi Juergen.
Thanks for the info and data.
But I have a little doubt. If you see the picture and the fore in close detail, its clear that the ships name...begins with the letter "E" ????...another sister ship from the Leverkusen or Ludwigshafen ???.
Again thanks a lot for the links and data.
Best regards.
Ventuari

Very interesting photo and info, thanks to all!

Cheers
Jens

I made a mistake in my first comment, Leverkusen Express after conversion and later as MSC ANASTASIA
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=332906

Second ship was Ludwigshafen, from the midbody section the RENEE RICKMERS was built
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=185610

Rgds.
Juergen

Hi Ventuari,

photo must be taken in Motzen on the west bank of river Weser. In the background Fassmer shipyard is readable. Not far away on the other side of the river was the yard Bremer Vulkan. In those days I think four vessels from Hapag-Lloyd were converted into container vessels. They got new midbodies. Two of the old midbodies were used to build up two new vessels for Rickmers.
Possible that I can find out their names.

Regards,
Holger

This is the midbody section of HAPAG LLOYD freighter Leverkusen
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=557000
before converted to a containership
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=208585

The midbody section became later BERTRAM RICKMERS
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=185572


Rgds.
Juergen