Serious fall down the stairs
Hamburg shipowner Bertram Rickmers died in an accident
May 22, 2023 at 8:23 p.m
The name Rickmers is associated with a large Hanseatic shipowning dynasty. After the family business went bankrupt, Bertram Rickmers successfully built a new shipping company. The 71-year-old died in a tragic accident.
Hamburg shipowner Bertram Rickmers has died. “Mr. Rickmers died unexpectedly at home on Monday night,” the management of Asian Spirit Steamship Company said in a statement to employees. The 71-year-old was the head of the shipping company. According to media reports, Rickmers fell down a flight of stairs in the family villa and succumbed to his injuries. In business circles there was talk of a tragic accident.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this passionate Hanseatic, restless shipowner, caring father and committed citizen of Hamburg,” the statement said. “At this hour our thoughts are primarily with Bertram Rickmers’ wife Franziska, his three children and five grandchildren, for whom we extend our deepest sympathy.”
Bertram Rickmers came from a shipowning dynasty and expanded the Rickmers shipping company over the years. In the meantime, more than 100 containers and 30 special ships were part of the fleet. Rickmers had gotten into trouble as a result of a previous severe shipping crisis. The company had to file for bankruptcy in 2017. The 2016 financial year ended with a loss of 341 million euros, the debt was around 1.5 billion euros. HSH Nordbank then rejected the Hamburg shipping company’s loan applications and refused to approve the restructuring concept.
Two years after the bankruptcy, Rickmers founded the Asian Spirit Steamship Company. Two freighters at the beginning became eleven ships in the end. His son Rickmer Clasen has been running the business since 2022.