The origins of Nereus Shipping S.A. lie in the long maritime tradition of the Lemos family, a distinguished seafaring family from the Greek island of Oinousses. Their lineage in shipping reaches back to the 19th century. Carrying this legacy forward, Costas M. Lemos (1910–1995) -a University of Athens Law School graduate and accomplished Merchant Marine Captain- continued to strengthen the family’s enduring ties to the maritime world, ultimately shaping the foundation upon which Nereus Shipping S.A. was established.
The “Nereus Shipping S.A.” company was established by the Lemos family which hails from the Greek island of Oinousses. The Lemos family traces its roots back to the 19th century, when Captain Michael K. Lemos (1881-1940), managed a fleet of steamships and was among the founders of the Piraeus Shipping Bank.
Continuing the tradition, Costas M. Lemos (1910-1995) was a graduate of the University of Athens Law School and a Merchant Marine Captain. Βorn on an island with a rich maritime tradition, such as Oinousses, could not stay away from the sea. During his lifetime he emerged as one of the most important figures not only of Greek but also of international shipping.He began his career in shipping in London in 1937, and after the outbreak of World War II, he settled in New York. While in New York, he managed a fleet of 15 Liberty ships, along with Emmanuel Kulukundis, in service of the Allied forces. Three (3) of the ship were lost during the war.
As recognition by the US Government for the company’s efforts and sacrifices during the war (including the loss of the 3 vessels), the organization was invited to participate in the post-war sale and purchase of US built of Liberty Ships.
In 1947 the Liberty ship “John Drew” built in 1943, was acquired as a form of war reparation since the Lemos family had lost three steamships during the war, and renamed her “Michael”. In the same year, the “C.M. Lemos” company was founded in London to serve as the headquarters of an expanded Liberty fleet.
Seeing the potential for Japanese vessel building innovation and quality the group was among the very first to build ships in Japanese shipyards in the 1950s, in such volume that in 1965 he was honored by the Japanese government for his contribution to the country’s economic development.
Passionate about science and technology, he is credited with the development of combination cargo ships (Ore-Bulk-Oil carriers, Ore-Oil carriers.) and the introduction of horizontal watertight bulkheads on them. He pioneered the transfer of vessel’s bridge accommodation to the stern, from the tradition mid-ship position which was the prevailing trend at the time.
In cooperation with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (now part of the JMU group), the organization experimented with “double-shell” hull design on a 70,000 mt dwt OBO vessel. This was the precursor to the double-hull which was to come 20 years later. In 1969 the Nereus Shipping S.A. fleet compose on 60 vessels.
In 1971 he took delivery of the two largest bulk carriers in the world, the 174,000 ton OBO’s “Rhetoric” & “Romantic”. In 1973 he took delivery of the 446,500-ton supertanker “Homeric” among the largest to ever be built. In the mid-1980s the company’s fleet was significantly reduced and recorded a decreased shipbuilding activity in Japanese shipyards.
The Nereus Shipping fleet composed of more than 5,000,000 mt dwt capacity was the largest of any Greek owner at the time.
Costas M. Lemos was one of the most successful and well-known shipbuilders of his time. He was internationally regarded as a resourceful businessman, as evidenced by the fact that he sold most of his fleet before the great shipping crisis of 1981. Despite his vast fortune and his presence in New York, London and Lausanne, he remained aloof out of the public eye, loyal to the principles of the Greek family maritime business.
Apart from being a true pioneer in business and shipbuilding design, Costas M. Lemos had an honest and sincere love and support for his homeland and Greek seafarers, especially the younger generation entering the maritime profession.
The constant and systematic presence of Costas M. Lemos as a member of the Union of Greek Shipowners and also of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in London for a number of years proved his dedication to Greek shipping. Indeed, many of his benefits were never announced. An ardent and practical supporter of public maritime education, he was a great supporter of the country’s Merchant Marine Academies, while he was of the opinion that Greek sailors should be as informed and qualified as possible in order to “compete” with their colleagues from abroad.
In the mid-1990s the company would begin newbuilding programs of modern Suezmax tankers (150,000 tonnes) and VLCCs (300,000 tonnes) at the Japanese yards of Mitsui, NKK, and Universal.
In 2010 Nereus Shipping S.A. took delivery of two of the largest Capesize cargo ships from the Odense shipyards in Denmark and in 2013 it started its cooperation with Korean shipyards SPP & HII for the building of bulk carriers and tankers.
The company currently operates a modern fleet of Suezmax & LR2 tankers and bulk carriers. Throughout its history, the company has remained loyal to the same core values: quality of services, health and safety, innovation, seafarer well-being and training and environmental sustainability.
The company’s headquarters are located in Piraeus, in the “Lemos Maritime Building” while the chartering offices are in London and New York.
Nereus Shipping S.A. is an established ship management company which traces its origins back to the 19th century. The Company has adopted a long-term strategy of prudent operation and is committed to the highest health & safety standards. Nereus Shipping S.A. is a member of: INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, HELMEPA, UGS.
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