Rickmers-Linie and Escombe Lambert Holdings establish UK liner agency company

Joint Press Release by Rickmers-Linie and Escombe Lambert Holdings

Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie KG, the Hamburg-headquartered specialist in the transport of breakbulk, heavylift and project cargoes, and Escombe Lambert Holdings Ltd have established a new liner agency company in the UK, Rickmers-Linie Agency Ltd.

Announcing the decision, Gerhard Janssen, Sales & Marketing Director, Rickmers-Linie, stated:

"In the world of project forwarding, the UK is a significant player; many international projects are planned and managed by specialist teams based in the UK. By establishing this new agency in London and Middlesbrough, we will be better placed to service these customers."

The new company will have its head office in Barking, East London, with a branch office in Middlesbrough in NE England and will take over all responsibility for marketing and sales activity throughout the UK as of 1 September 2009.

The UK company will be headed by David Greaves, who has for many years been associated with Rickmers-Linie as its UK representative, as well as with Rickmers' previous agency, OceanExpress Ltd. He will continue to be based in Middlesbrough.

Mr Greaves thanked OceanExpress for its support over the past four years, saying:

"OceanExpress Ltd has been an excellent agent, especially developing the parcel business out of the UK via Antwerp. OceanExpress will continue to offer this service in future as a customer of Rickmers-Linie. We are very pleased about the cooperation with the company since 2005.

"Having said this, we need to focus on the global market and get closer to those companies managing major projects out of the UK, which is why we have chosen to establish Rickmers-Linie Agency Ltd together with Escombe Lambert Holdings."

Escombe Lambert Holdings, with its extensive experience in the liner agency business, will provide full agency services including the issuing of bills of lading for UK export cargo and customs clearance for import cargo.

Contact details

Rickmers-Linie Agency Ltd

Hapag Lloyd House, 48a, Cambridge Road

Barking, Essex. IG11 8HH

Tel +44 (0) 20 8709 1668

E-Mail London@rickmers.net

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Note to editors

Celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, Rickmers-Linie, based in Hamburg, Germany is one of the world's leading specialists in the global transportation of breakbulk, heavylift and project cargo by sea. The company belongs to Rickmers Group, which offers diversified activities in the fields of liner shipping, shipowning and shipmanagement, investments and real estate as well as maritime related services.

More information about Rickmers-Linie is available at www.rickmers-linie.com. Information about the manifold activities of Rickmers Group is available at www.rickmers.com.