Costamare confirms Konstantakopoulos' foray into offshore vessel sector

According to the report, "As of 12 February 2025, Costamare Shipping is also the manager of one container vessel, one dry bulk vessel, and three offshore vessels privately owned or controlled by our chairman and chief executive officer." Costamare’s fleet is managed by Costamare Shipping, a company privately controlled by Mr Konstantakopoulos.

Notably, Mr Konstantakopoulos’ private interests were reportedly behind the acquisition of three secondhand platform supply vessels in late 2023, a transaction from which Costamare has distanced itself. While the annual report does not specify the vessels’ names, shipbrokers have linked the prominent Greek shipowner to the purchase of the 2011-built Vestland Artemis, Solvik Supplier and Evita II, built in 2012.

Additionally, Mr Konstantakopoulos has been linked to a major order for up to 10 5,000-dwt multi-purpose service vessels at PaxOcean’s yard in Zhoushan, China.

The Costamare head is among the first Greek shipowners to expand into the offshore vessel sector, alongside Evangelos Marinakis, John Dragnis and Semiramis Paliou.

NML’s offshore expansion

Since March 2023, Costamare has also been the controlling shareholder of Neptune Maritime Leasing Ltd, a company that operates a leasing business with an increasing focus on offshore vessels.

As of 12 February 2025, Neptune is funding or committed to funding 37 shipping assets. Its portfolio of sale-and-leaseback arrangements includes 19 dry bulk vessels, three tankers and 15 offshore vessels.

In March 2024, Neptune’s portfolio included one container ship, four tankers, 16 dry bulk vessels, and three offshore supply vessels, all under bareboat charter agreements.

The company’s latest deal, sealed just one month ago, involves a commitment letter (subject to final documentation) to acquire three offshore support vessels from a shipowner, under which the vessels will be chartered back to the seller through bareboat agreements.