The Fleets
This page covers Rickmers Line, Rickmers Reismühlen and Rhederei & Schiffbau AG.
R. C. Rickmers commenced shipbuilding in 1836 in Bremen and later in Geestemunde. In 1848 he moved into shipowning in partnership and then on his own account. The company's main voyages were to East Asia, although they traded to other parts of the world, notably the California - Europe wheat trade. The company moved into steamships in 1889 when they commissioned the SOPHIE RICKMERS, but continued to use sailing ships for several years. By 1899 Rickmers had sold their Far East ships to North German Lloyd and HAPAG and in 1903 sold their fleet of eight Far Eastern coastal steamers to NGL. The remainder of the fleet was chartered to Reis und Handels-AG, Bremen until 1909 when Rickmers now owned a fleet of unemployed ships, but commenced a new service to Vladivostok which soon flourished.
In 1912 the headquarters of the firm was moved from Bremen to Hamburg and the remainder of the sailing ships were sold. The following year Rickmers purchased the services of the British Bell Line to the Levant and in 1914 the Siberia trade extended to the Straits, China and Japan. The Great War resulted in the loss or confiscation of most of the company's ships and it wasn't until 1920 that they resumed operations with the new SOPHIA RICKMERS which was the first German steamer to dock in New York after the war.
Services to East Asia soon resumed and passengers were carried for the first few years. At the beginning of the Second World War, Rickmers owned seven steamers, but by 1945 owned none and it was not until 1951 that services resumed to China and the Far East. In 1964 the company entered into partnership with the French Delmas-Vieljeux Line which opened trading to West Africa. In 1966 a joint shipping company was formed with DDG Hansa and in 1969 the partnership with Delmas-Vieljeux was dissolved. Hapag-Lloyd and Rickmers agreed on a joint liner service to East Asia in 1974. In 1987 the company withdrew from shipowning.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- Worldwide tramping.
- Germany to Siberia and Far East
Sailing Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Rickmers (1) | 1894 | four masted barque, 1900 sold to Bremen as training ship renamed Herzogin Sophie Charlotte. | 2,395 |
| Albert Rickmers (2) | 1905 | barque, 1911 sold to Laeisz Line, Hamburg renamed Penang. | 2,039 |
| Alice Rickmers | 1875 | barque, 1896 sold to Bremen renamed Hansa. | 1,270 |
| Andreas | 1864 | ship, 1871 went missing in China Sea. | 1,010 |
| Andreas Rickmers | 1873 | ship, 1878 stranded off Madeira and sank. | 1,560 |
| Andree Rickmers (1) | 1886 | barque, 1896 caught fire and abandoned in Atlantic. | 1,500 |
| Bassermann | 1848 | brig, 1852 wrecked. | 205 |
| Deike Rickmers (1) | 1872 | barque, 1873 sold to Bremen owner renamed C. R. Bischop. | 930 |
| Deike Rickmers (2) | 1874 | ship. 1884 stranded off Harwich. | 1,840 |
| Doctor Petermann | 1866 | barque, 1873 sold to Bremen owner. | 750 |
| Dodo | 1861 | barque, 1868 sold to Denmark. | 370 |
| Elisabeth Rickmers (1) | 1877 | barque, 1894 wrecked near Ringkobing. | 1,300 |
| Ellen Rickmers (1) | 1868 | barque, 1875 sold to Elsfleth. | 375 |
| Ellen Rickmers (2) | 1884 | barque, 1891 left Newcastle for Peneg and went missing. | 1,450 |
| Energie | 1860 | barque, 1867 sold to France. | 310 |
| Erik Rickmers | 1897 | ship, 1899 wrecked in fog off Scilly Isles. | 2,050 |
| Ernst und Maria | 1864 | barque, 1872 sold to Arendal. | 332 |
| Erwin Rickmers | 1882 | barque, 1898 sold to Bremen owner renamed Brema. | 1,460 |
| Etha Rickmers (1) | 1859 | barque, 1864 sold to Norway. | 435 |
| Etha Rickmers (2) | 1866 | ship, 1870 wrecked on Goodwin Sands, all hands lost. | 1,160 |
| Etha Rickmers (3) | 1871 | ship, 1889 sold to Norway renamed Rubia. | 1,036 |
| Etha Rickmers (4) | 1890 | ship, 1904 sold to Italy renamed S. Amalia. | 1,860 |
| Grossvater | 1862 | barque, 1867 sold. | 540 |
| Helgoland | 1860 | ship, 1863 wrecked off Texel. | 815 |
| Laurita | 1868 | barquentine, 1873 sold. | 270 |
| Mabel Rickmers (1) | 1898 | ship, 1912 sold to Hamburg owners renamed Winterhude. | 2,065 |
| Madeleine Rickmers (1) | 1879 | barque, 1898 condemned at Port Natal after storm damage. | 1,300 |
| Maria Rickmers (1) | 1868 | barque, 1889 sold to Norway renamed Gratia. | 585 |
| Maria Rickmers (2) | 1892 | five masted barque, 1892 went missing on voyage Saigon to Bremerhaven; loss of 39 lives. | 3,822 |
| Paul Rickmers (1) | 1876 | barque, 1895 stranded Timor Islands. | 1,250 |
| Peter Rickmers (1) | 1867 | barque, 1884 sold to Finland renamed Widja. | 720 |
| Peter Rickmers (2) | 1889 | four masted ship, 1908 stranded on voyage New York - Rangoon. | 2,926 |
| R.C. Rickmers (1) | 1868 | ship, 1882 caught fire and abandoned off Madeira. | 1,080 |
| R.C. Rickmers (2) | 1888 | ship, 1901 sold to Italy renamed Teresa. | 1,750 |
| R.C. Rickmers (3) | 1905 | five masted barque, 1914 captured by Britain renamed Neath, 1917 sunk by U.66 off Fastnet. | 5,548 |
| Renee Rickmers (1) | 1887 | four masted barque, 1913 sold to Finland renamed Aland. | 2,066 |
| Richard Rickmers | 1881 | barque, 1899 sold Bremerhaven renamed Dora. | 1,400 |
| Rickmer Rickmers | 1896 | ship, 1912 sold to Hamburg owner renamed Max. | 2,007 |
| Robert Rickmers (1) | 1866 | barque, 1871 sold. | 438 |
| Robert Rickmers (2) | 1888 | four masted barque, 1904 went missing on voyage Philadelphia - Hiogo; loss of 26 lives. | 2,277 |
| Rudolf | 1862 | barque, 1865 sold to Hamburg owner, 1868 renamed Ida. | 227 |
| Sophie Rickmers (1) | 1870 | barque, 1871 confiscated by France in Saigon. | 880 |
| Sophie und Helene | 1863 | barque, 1869 lost off Hong Kong. | 365 |
| Willy | 1859 | ship, 1868 wrecked Gaspar Straits. | 855 |
| Willy Rickmers (1) | 1868 | barque, 1889 sold to Grimstad renamed Goodthab. | 850 |
| Willy Rickmers (2) | 1895 | four masted barque, 1912 sold to Bremen owners renamed Paul. | 2,069 |
Steam Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aenne Rickmers | 1911 | 1914 captured by Britain, 1915 renamed Anne. | 4,083 |
| Andree Rickmers (2) | 1902 | 1906 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Locksun. | 1,657 |
| Andree Rickmers (3) | 1907 | 1917 sold to Schleswig owner renamed Hilda Horn. | 4,173 |
| Baltrum | 1900 | trawler, 1903 went missing in Atlantic. | 160 |
| Bertram Rickmers (1) | 1923 | 1941 sunk by Royal Navy in Red Sea. | 4,188 |
| Bertram Rickmers (2) | 1979 | 1987 sold to Panama renamed Trade Candour. | 14,442 |
| Camilla Rickmers | 1914 | 1917 seized by USA renamed Ticonderoga, 1918 sunk by U-Boat. | 5,130 |
| Claus Rickmers | 1924 | 1947 seized by Britain renamed Empire Carron. | 5,165 |
| Deike Rickmers (3) | 1896 | 1899 sold to HAPAG renamed Holsatia. | 3,349 |
| Deike Rickmers (4) | 1908 | 1917 seized by China renamed Hwah Ting. | 4,176 |
| Deike Rickmers (5) | 1910 | ex- Cartagena , 1926 purchased from Hamburg owner renamed Deike Rickmers, 1927 sold to Japan renamed Tami Maru. | 1,552 |
| Deike Rickmers (6) | 1912 | ex- Aker , 1929 purchased from Norway renamed Deike Rickmers, 1938 sold to Moller Line, Shanghai renamed Helga Moller. | 5,341 |
| Deike Rickmers (7) | 1944 | 1945 seized by Britain renamed Empire Concord. | 1,923 |
| Denderah Rickmers | 1892 | ex- Denderah , 1912 purchased from Kosmos Line, Hamburg renamed Denderah Rickmers 1912 went missing between Karatsu and Cebu. | 3,066 |
| Dorothea Rickmers (1) | 1895 | 1899 sold HAPAG renamed Frisia. | 3,738 |
| Dorothea Rickmers (2) | 1903 | 1903 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Anghin. | 1.613 |
| Dorothea Rickmers (3) | 1907 | 1917 sold to Hamburg owner renamed Gallipoli. | 4,177 |
| Elisabeth Rickmers (2) | 1896 | 1900 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Norderney. | 4,777 |
| Elisabeth Rickmers (3) | 1903 | 1906 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Pongtong. | 1,631 |
| Elisabeth Rickmers (4) | 1906 | 1917 sold to Lubeck owners renamed Hornhoh. | 4,174 |
| Ellen Rickmers (3) | 1896 | 1900 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Borkum. | 4,905 |
| Ellen Rickmers (4) | 1903 | 1903 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Samsen. | 1,632 |
| Ellen Rickmers (5) | 1906 | 1914 scuttled off Tsingtau, 1915 salved by Japan renamed Rozan. | 4,117 |
| Etha | 1958 | ex- Munchen , 1970 purchased from HAPAG renamed Etha, 1975 renamed Etha Rickmers, 1981 transferred to Panama registry, 1986 scrapped. | 12,669 |
| Etha Rickmers (5) | 1909 | 1914 seized by Russia renamed Kaca, 1918 returned to Germany renamed Etha Rickmers, 1919 to Britain as war reparations, 1922 renamed Croxteth Hall (Ellerman Hall Line) | 4,101 |
| Etha Rickmers (6) | 1906 | ex- Bito , 1926 purchased from Eftikhia SS Co, London renamed Etha Rickmers, 1938 sold to Moller Line, Shanghai renamed Gladys Moller. | 5,149 |
| Etha Rickmers (7) | 1959 | 1964 sold to China renamed You Hao. | 8,405 |
| Etha Rickmers (8) | 1975 | see Etha. | |
| Hans Rickmers | 1919 | ex- Trelyon , 1938 purchased from Hain SS Co, St. Ives renamed Hans Rickmers, 1942 mined and grounded off Petsamo, destroyed by Russian artillery. | 5,226 |
| Helene Rickmers (1) | 1889 | 1899 sold to HAPAG renamed Teutonia. | 3,066 |
| Helene Rickmers (2) | 1903 | 1913 sold to Atlas Line, Hamburg, then to Deutsche Levante Line, renamed Rodosto. | 3,543 |
| Langeoog | 1896 | trawler, 1903 sold to Bremen owner. | 142 |
| Lilly Rickmers | 1910 | 1917 sold to Dortmund owner renamed Hans-Wilhelm Hemsoth. | 4,081 |
| Mabel Rickmers (2) | 1914 | 1917 sold to Hamburg owner renamed Franziska. | 5,130 |
| Madeleine Rickmers (2) | 1901 | 1906 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Choising. | 1,657 |
| Madeleine Rickmers (3) | 1908 | 1912 wrecked on Japanese coast. | 4,170 |
| Madeleine Rickmers (4) | 1913 | 1917 sold to Schleswig owner renamed Minna Horn. | 3,432 |
| Mai Rickmers (1) | 1910 | 1917 sold to Lubeck owner renamed Hornstein. | 4,103 |
| Mai Rickmers (2) | 1935 | ex- Merchant Knight (photo http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/ShipsIndex.html ), 1950 purchased from Drake Line, London renamed Mai Rickmers, 1962 scrapped. | 4,743 |
| Mai Rickmers (3) | 1957 | ex- Erik Blumenfeld , 1965 purchased from Hamburg owners renamed Mai Rickmers, 1972 transferred to Singapore registry, 1986 scrapped. | 10,718 |
| Maria Rickmers (3) | 1896 | 1900 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Helgoland. | 4,888 |
| Maria Rickmers (4) | 1902 | 1903 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Paklat. | 1,657 |
| Maria Rickmers (5) | 1904 | 1912 sold to Atlas Line, Hamburg then to Deutsche Levante Line renamed Stambul. | 3,559 |
| Moni | 1967 | 1969 sold to France renamed Mont Delmas. | 2,838 |
| Moni Rickmers | 1919 | ex- Trewyn , 1937 purchased from Hain SS Co, St. Ives renamed Moni Rickmers, 1940 seized by Holland renamed Salando. | 5,272 |
| Paul Rickmers (2) | 1955 | 1972 transferred to Singapore registry, 1982 scrapped. | 7,910 |
| Peter Rickmers (3) | 1913 | 1914 scuttled at Beirut as blockship. | 5,162 |
| Peter Rickmers (4) | 1944 | 1945 seized by Britain renamed Empire Colne. | 1,923 |
| Peter Rickmers (5) | 1962 | 1972 transferred to Singapore registry, 1986 scrapped. | 10,223 |
| R.C. Rickmers (4) | 1921 | 1941 sold to Japan renamed Teifukku Maru. | 5,198 |
| R.C. Rickmers (5) | 1957 | 1971 sold to Cyprus. | 8,127 |
| Renee Rickmers (2) | 1980 | 1987 sold to Panama renamed Trade Concord. | 14,441 |
| Sabine Rickmers (1) | 1894 | 1898 sold to Shell Transport Co, Hong Kong. | 1,026 |
| Sabine Rickmers (2) | 1909 | 1914 seized by Russia renamed Nonni. | 4,105 |
| Senegal | 1960 | 1965 purchased from Holland, 1969 sold to Italy renamed Andrea Cagnoni. | 1,591 |
| Shantung | 1900 | 1901 sold to North German Lloyd. | 1,687 |
| Sophie Rickmers (2) | 1889 | 1889 sold to HAPAG renamed Westphalia. | 3,095 |
| Sophie Rickmers (3) | 1901 | 1916 seized by Portugal renamed Berlenga. | 3,548 |
| Sophie Rickmers (4) | 1920 | 1940 scuttled in Sabang roads. | 7,033 |
| Sophie Rickmers (5) | 1957 | ex- Dresden , 1970 purchased from HAPAG renamed Sophie Rickmers, 1972 transferred to Singapore registry, 1987 scrapped. | 12,494 |
| Spiekeroog | 1895 | trawler, 1903 sold to Bremen owner. | 131 |
| Sui An | 1899 | 1901 sold to HAPAG. | 1,651 |
| Sui Hsiang | 1900 | 1900 sank after grounding near Chungking. | 826 |
| Sui Tai | 1899 | 1901 sold to HAPAG. | 1,651 |
| Tsintau | 1900 | 1901 sold to North German Lloyd. | 1,685 |
| Ursala Rickmers (1) | 1911 | 1917 sold to Hamburg owner renamed Bosporus. | 4,185 |
| Ursala Rickmers (2) | 1917 | ex- Wheatmore , 1928 purchased from Johnston Line renamed Ursala Rickmers, 1941 sold to Japan renamed Teisen Maru. | 5,050 |
| Ursala Rickmers (3) | 1931 | ex- Gertrud Maersk , 1956 purchased from Maersk Line, Copenhagen renamed Ursala Rickmers, 1964 scrapped. | 6,907 |
| Wangerooge | 1895 | trawler, 1904 sold to Tsingtau renamed Lingsau. | 131 |
| Willi Rickmers | 1954 | ex- Kybfels , 1966 purchased from Hansa Line, Bremen renamed Willi Rickmers, 1969 resold to Hansa Line renamed Reichenfels. | 7,003 |
| Willy Rickmers (3) | 1915 | 1917 sold to Hamburg owner renamed Gertrud. | 5,091 |