TBS International Limited, an ocean transportation services company that offers worldwide shipping solutions through liner, parcel and bulk transportation services, announced today that it has taken delivery of the M.V. Laguna Belle (ex M.V. Clipper Frontier), a vessel it had previously agreed to acquire.The M.V. Laguna Belle, 29,458 dwt, was built in 1996 at the Dalian Shipyard. The TBS fleet currently consists of 33 multipurpose, handymax and handysize vessels.As already announced, TBS has also entered into an agreement to acquire the M.V. Alabama Belle (ex M.V. Aliki), a 41,808 dwt 1986-built handymax bulk carrier. TBS expects to take delivery of the M.V. Alabama Belle between November 20 and December 5, 2006, thereby further expanding its fleet to 34 vessels.
Joseph E. Royce, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, stated: "The delivery of the M.V. Laguna Belle, along with that of the M.V. Alabama Belle which is expected later this month, will complete our initial three vessel expansion program we implemented in the third quarter, as a response to the growth of our business. In this context, our fleet will shortly be comprised of a total of 34 multipurpose, handymax and handysize vessels, which further enhances our ability to accommodate our customers and are ideally suited for the ports and cargoes we service. We plan to continue exploring opportunities for further fleet renewal and expansion as the growth of our business in our main markets and trade routes, as well as new business opportunities we have been developing, increase."
TBS is an ocean transportation services company that offers worldwide shipping solutions through liner, parcel and bulk services, and vessel chartering. TBS has developed its business around key trade routes between Latin America and China, Japan and South Korea, as well as select ports in North America, Africa and the Caribbean. TBS provides frequent regularly scheduled voyages in its network, as well as cargo scheduling, loading and discharge for its customers.