Costamare eyes major container vessel order in China

Shipbroking and market sources indicate the US-listed Greek owner is in advanced discussions with China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) regarding a potential series of up to 12 9,200-TEU container vessels.

The sources caution that the deal is still under discussion, and no firm decisions have been made regarding the final number of vessels should the order proceed.

Costamare has been approached for comment.

Costamare returned to the newbuilding market mid-2025, placing an order for four 3,100-TEU ships at an unnamed Chinese yard, with brokers naming Zhoushan Changhong as the counterparty. In November, the Greek shipping company confirmed it had added two more vessels to its orderbook.

The owner has already secured long-term employment for these six vessels, commencing upon delivery from the shipyard (through Q1 2028) with a charter duration of eight years each.

Costamare’s active fleet currently comprises 69 container vessels, with a total capacity of 520,000 TEU. Based on its Q3 financial results, the company holds total contracted revenues of US$2.6Bn, with an average remaining time charter duration of 3.2 years. Its container ship fleet was 80% fixed for 2026 according to these figures.

Greek shipowners featured prominently in container vessel shipbuilding news last year, with many emerging as new entrants and others consolidating their positions with fresh orders. Feeder container vessels were among the types most contracted, while companies also opted for mid-size and even larger vessels throughout the year.