Greek shipowners invest in feeders

The charter market for so-called feeder containerships, up to 3,800 TEUs of transport capacity, is still at high, stable levels.

This is a sector where Greek shipowners have made major investments in the last three years, either with new orders or with second-hand purchases.

According to Alphaliner’s analysis, in the tonnage below 4,000 TEUs, greater liquidity in available capacity has led to more transactions, with rates moving at consistently high levels and in some cases strengthening – particularly in the 2,500, 1,800 and 1,000 TEU sizes.

Charters, however, tend to be slightly shorter, particularly in the 1,500-1,800 TEUs segment, a development that may – according to analysts – turn out to be temporary.

Τime charter contracts remain popular even in smaller sizes, with information indicating that three ships with a capacity of 3,400 TEUs have secured employment for many years.

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Greeks

Since 2022, the number of Greek companies placing orders in these sizes has gradually increased.

Companies that are traditional in the containership sector, such as Costamare, owned by Kostis Konstantakopoulos, and Danaos, owned by Dr. Ioannis Coustas, have made similar moves with new orders.

Tsakos Group, Chartworld Shipping, owned by the Kollakis family, as well as Capital, owned by Vangelis Marinakis, as well as Euroseas, owned by Aristides Pittas, have also made similar moves in feeder containership orders.

Minerva Marine, owned by Andreas Martinos, follows the trend, as does Latsco Shipping, led by Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, and Veanergy Maritime.

Alberta Shipmanagement, a shipping company owned by Nikolaos Iglessis, has also invested in shipbuilding in the sector.

At the end of 2025, Anna Angelicoussis’ shipping group also placed orders for feeders.

In the second-hand sector, Contships, owned by Nikolas D. Pateras, the largest private company with a feeder fleet, is very active, as is the Dragnis family group, as well as Conbulk, owned by the Dalakoura family.

Ships with a capacity of 3,000-3,800 TEUs remain extremely difficult to find, which is forcing some charterers to proceed with forward fixing to cover their needs.

For example, the existing charterer of three Greek-owned ships with a capacity of 3,400 TEUs has reportedly extended their charter for a period of 36 months, at a daily rate of 29,500 dollars, starting in early 2027.

Also, containerships with a capacity of 2,700-2,900 TEUs, according to Alphaliner, continue to be particularly popular with charterers, while both older, conventionally designed ships and newer, energy-efficient “Chittagongmax” are benefiting from favorable market conditions.

Among the agreements that stand out, Hapag-Lloyd is reported to have extended the charter of the Green Bay (SDARI Sealion 2900), with a capacity of 2,954 TEUs, for a period of 32-36 months, with a daily charter rate of $30,000.

Also, the demand for ships with a capacity of 2,000-2,699 TEUs remains consistently high and, combined with the limited number of ships available for charter, keeps freight rates at high levels, with a mild upward trend.

Among the notable deals, the 2,546 TEU Charm C (YZJ 2500) was reportedly chartered by Cosco Shipping for 24 months at a daily rate of 29,000 dollars.

In the 1,500-1,900 TEU segment, GS Lines chartered the 1,781 TEU Seatrade Colombia for a 3-4 month period in the Atlantic, at a daily rate of 40,500 dollars.

Ships with a capacity of 1,250-1,499 TEU remain in high demand, especially those with ice class.

For example, the 1,421 TEU, ice class 1AS, Heinrich Ehler extended its charter in the Atlantic for 16 months, at a daily rate of 19,500.

Finally, vessels with a capacity of 1,000-1,249 TEUs remain in good demand in both the Atlantic and Asia and see their employment prospects improving further as supply shrinks.

Indicatively, Alphaliner has recorded a slight strengthening of rates for “CV1100” type vessels in recent weeks, with some units securing 12-month Atlantic charters in the region of or above $16,000 per day, compared to agreements previously closed at 15,000 dollars.