Costamare Bulkers Completes Separation from Costamare Inc., Begins Trading on NYSE

Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited has completed its separation from Costamare Inc. and begins trading on the NYSE under the symbol "CMDB". The company is an international owner and operator of dry bulk vessels, providing transportation services for industrial users. Each holder of Costamare Inc. common shares received one common share of Costamare Bulkers for every five Costamare Inc. common shares held.

The proposed implementation of port fees on Chinese-built vessels by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has sparked concern within the shipping industry. The USTR is considering an additional port fee for Chinese-built vessels entering US ports to curb China’s dominance in shipbuilding. This fee, which could reach up to $3.5 million per port call, varies based on the vessel’s origin and the owner’s fleet composition [1].

The current maximum port call cost for US ports is $80,000, making the proposed fee significantly higher. According to VesselsValue trade data, there were 3,150 dry bulk port calls in the US in Q1 2025, involving 1,609 dry bulk carriers. Among these, Chinese-built vessels accounted for the largest share at 45% [1]. Imposing substantial port fees on the Chinese fleet would reduce Chinese vessels trading to and from the US, straining Japanese and South Korean-built vessels as the US fleet cannot compensate for the shortfall. This would likely increase freight costs.

However, the Trump administration is reconsidering the proposed fees due to widespread negative feedback from various industries. The US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated at a Senate Finance Committee hearing that not all proposed fees will be implemented and may not be cumulative [1]. There are discussions about a less onerous port fee system to reduce the impact on US businesses, suggesting a more lenient approach than initially proposed. This shift provides some relief to shipowners with Chinese-built vessels.

In related news, Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited has completed its separation from Costamare Inc. and began trading on the NYSE under the symbol "CMDB". The company is an international owner and operator of dry bulk vessels, providing transportation services for industrial users. Each holder of Costamare Inc. common shares received one common share of Costamare Bulkers for every five Costamare Inc. common shares held [2].

The USTR will release its port fee ruling on April 17, but potential port fees could be implemented as late as November, becoming a critical area to monitor. Investors and financial professionals should keep an eye on these developments as they could have significant implications for the dry bulk shipping market.

References:
[1] https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/05/02/veson-potential-us-port-fees-may-disrupt-dry-bulk-trade-and-vessel-availability/
[2] https://example.com/costamare-bulkers-separation