Greek containership owner Costamare is being linked to a fresh round of newbuildings, with market sources pointing to an order for up to 12 mid-sized containerships at Chinese yards.
Brokerage and liner intelligence sources say the Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos-led group has either placed firm orders or entered advanced talks for twelve 9,200 teu vessels with yards under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), including Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS).
According to Alphaliner, Costamare may have already quietly committed to six ships in 2025, with another six now taking shape. As with the owner’s recent newbuilding activity, the programme is widely expected to be backed by long-term charter cover, although no charter details have been confirmed.
COSCO Group, including its OOCL unit, is seen by Alphaliner as the most likely charterer. The Chinese liner kicked off a large-scale newbuilding drive in December, covering up to 87 vessels, and has signalled it is open to sourcing part of that capacity through long-term charters rather than direct ownership.
So far, neither Costamare nor CSSC has confirmed the orders, and it remains unclear whether the ships will be conventionally fuelled or fitted with LNG or methanol dual-fuel capability. Costamare’s existing fleet is entirely conventional.
If confirmed, the deal would mark another step in Costamare’s return to the newbuilding market. The New York-listed owner, which controls around 70 boxships, re-entered the yard slots last year with an order for four 3,100 teu vessels at Zhoushan Changhong International, later lifted to six. Those ships are scheduled for delivery between the second and fourth quarters of 2027 and will each go straight onto eight-year charters with Ocean Network Express (ONE).
