Background
The founders of Costamare have a long history of operating and investing in the shipping industry. The name “Costamare” was first used in the shipping industry in 1975 when Captain Vasileios Konstantakopoulos, the late father of our current chairman and chief executive officer Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos, formed Costamare Shipping Company S.A. (Costamare Shipping) to serve as the manager of the then existing fleet of ships directly or indirectly owned by the Konstantakopoulos family.
The initial focus of Capt. Vasileios Konstantakopoulos was on drybulk vessels, but he soon grasped the importance of containerization and gradually Costamare evolved into one of the largest independent owners of containerships in the world.
Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos, became the CEO of Costamare Shipping in 1998 and Chairman and CEO of Costamare in 2010. Under his leadership Costamare continued to foster a culture focusing on excellent customer service, industry leadership and innovation.
Historical Highlights
2023
Entered the maritime leasing (financing) space through Neptune Maritime Leasing Limited as a leading investor.
2022
Concluded a $500 million syndicated facility that was awarded by Marine Money with the Bank Debt Deal of the year Award for 2022.
Established a new dry bulk operating platform to enhance Costamare dry bulk presence by chartering in/out dry bulk vessels, entering into contracts of affreightment and using forward freight agreements.
2021
Costamare enters the dry bulk sector, acquiring 45 bulk carriers.
Costamare through its wholly owned subsidiary Costamare Participations Plc, launched a landmark €100 million unsecured bond on the Athens Stock Exchange. Costamare Participations Plc is the first ocean-going shipping company ever, to issue a fixed income security on the Greek capital market.
Costamare acquired York Capital's equity interest, in five 11,000 TEU containerships, four of which were built in 2017 and one of which was built in 2016. The acquisition brings the Company's ownership interest in these five vessels to 100%.
2020
Costamare successfully completes its fourth Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock offering, issuing 4.6 million shares (NYSE: CMRE PR Ε). Blue Net Chartering GmbH & Co. KG appointed by the Company as exclusive charter brokerage services provider.
Costamare ordered five containerships of 12,690 TEU capacity from Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group. The vessels are expected to be delivered between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 and upon delivery they will commence a ten-year time charter to Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.
Costamare acquired the 60% equity interest of York Capital in five 2016-built, 14,000 TEU containerships. Since November 12, 2018 we hold the 100% equity interest in these five vessels. The vessels operate under long term charters to Evergreen expiring in 2026.
2018
Costamare successfully completes its fourth Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock offering, issuing 4.6 million shares (NYSE: CMRE PR Ε).
Blue Net Chartering GmbH & Co. KG appointed by the Company as exclusive charter brokerage services provider.
Costamare ordered five containerships of 12,690 TEU capacity from Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group. The vessels are expected to be delivered between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 and upon delivery they will commence a ten-year time charter to Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.
Costamare acquired the 60% equity interest of York Capital in five 2016-built, 14,000 TEU containerships. Since November 12, 2018 we hold the 100% equity interest in these five vessels. The vessels operate under long term charters to Evergreen expiring in 2026.
2017
Costamare successfully completes a follow-on common equity offerings in May 2017, issuing 13.5 million shares
2016
Costamare successfully completes a follow-on common equity offerings in December 2016, issuing 12 million shares.
2015
Costamare successfully completes its third Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock offering, issuing 4.0 million shares (NYSE: CMRE PR D).
Costamare extends by five years the investment period of the Framework Deed with York Capital.
2014
Costamare completes phase one of its expansion strategy as a public company by taking delivery of ten last generation vessels of 9,000 TEU, all chartered long term.
Costamare successfully completes its second Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock offering, issuing 4.0 million shares (NYSE: CMRE PR C).
2013
Costamare successfully completes its first Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock offering, issuing 2.0 million shares (NYSE: CMRE PR B).
Costamare forms a containership acquisition joint venture with York Capital Management.
Costamare Shipping enters into a co-operation agreement with V.Ships Greece Ltd., establishing a shipmanagement Cell to manage Costamare as well as third party vessels.
2012
Costamare successfully completes two follow-on common equity offerings in March and October 2012, issuing 7.5 million and 7.0 million shares, respectively.
2011
Costamare continues to expand its fleet, taking delivery of ten second hand vessels and contracting to purchase 10 newbuildings, which were fixed on long term time charters with MSC and Evergreen.
2010
Costamare listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticket "CMRE".
Delivery of the 8,350 TEU capacity newbuilding containership, MSC Navarino, constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd., China.
2008
Ownership of the Costamare fleet was consolidated under the holding structure of Costamare Inc.
Under an agreement with German classification society Germanischer Lloyd, five ships of the Costamare fleet operationally pioneer a new carbon emissions indexing tool, making them the first worldwide to fully comply with new international guidelines on CO2 indexing.
2006
C-Man Maritime begins operations in the Philippines as an exclusive manning and training affiliate for Costamare Shipping and its management contractors.
On delivery, the latest Hyundai newbuildings become five of the largest containerships afloat and commence 12-year charters to Cosco Container Lines.
2005
Shanghai Costamare Ship Management Co., Ltd is established in Shanghai, The People’s Republic China.
2003
Five ships of more than 8,000 TEU capacity each are ordered from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. to be delivered in 2006. These containerships are subsequently expanded in design to 9,500 TEU capacity each.
1998
Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos takes over as CEO of Costamare Shipping.
Five post-panamax containerships of 6,500 TEU capacity are ordered, the largest for construction in South Korea and the first post-panamaxes for an independent containership owner.
1994
The first newbuildings are ordered - three 3,500 TEU ships from Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. to be delivered in 1996. This brings the fleet to 32 cellular ships.
1987
Acquisition of additional, younger and bigger, containerships including six of 965 TEU capacity and two ex-US Lines' owned containerships, of 2,500 TEU each.
1984
Diversification into containership ownership and management with the purchase of four containerships of 1,000 TEU capacity.
1975
Costamare Shipping is established by a Greek Captain, Vasileios Konstantakopoulos. At the same time Capt. Vasileios Konstantakopoulos acquires his first ship, a cargo vessel of 2,000 tons.
