Star Bulk announces agreements to construct three newcastlemax and two ultramax fuel efficient newbuildings
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. today announced that on September 23, 2013, the Company entered into agreements with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (SWS) for the construction of two 208,000 dwt Newcastlemax drybulk vessels each with fuel efficient specifications and expected deliveries during the first half 2016, the Company said in a press release. On September 27, 2013, the Company entered into agreements with Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co. (NACKS), for the construction of two 61,000 dwt Ultramax drybulk vessels and one 209,000 dwt Newcastlemax drybulk vessel, each with fuel efficient specifications and expected deliveries for the Ultramaxes during the fourth quarter of 2015 and for the Newcastlemax during the first quarter of 2016. The aggregate purchase price of the five newbuilding vessels is approximately $214.9 million. The Company also announced that it has chartered one of its Capesize vessels, the Star Borealis, for approximately five to seven months at a gross daily time charter rate of USD $27,000. About Star Bulk Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk’s vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain and minor bulks which include bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and maintains executive offices in Athens, Greece. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SBLK”. Currently, Star Bulk has an operating fleet of thirteen dry bulk carriers. The total fleet consists of five Capesize and eight Supramax dry bulk vessels with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,290,602 deadweight tons (dwt). The average age of our current operating fleet is approximately 10.7 years. In addition, we provide vessel management services to nine third ‐ party dry bulk vessels, including four Capesize vessels, three Supramax vessels and two Panamax vessels. We have entered into agreements for the construction of seven drybulk vessels each with fuel efficient specifications, including two 208,000 dwt Newcastlemax drybulk vessels with expected deliveries during the first half of 2016, respectively, one 209,000 dwt Newcastlemax drybulk vessel with an expected delivery during the first quarter of 2016, two 180,000 dwt Capesize drybulk vessels with expected deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2016, respectively and two 61,000 dwt Ultramax drybulk vessels with expected deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2015 and fourth quarter of 2015, respectively. In addition, we have entered into letters of intent for the construction of two 60,000 dwt Ultramax drybulk vessels with fuel efficient specifications with expected deliveries in 2015.