Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (Seanergy) (NASDAQ: SHIP) reported Thursday the delivery of two previously-announced Capesize vessel acquisitions. The first vessel is a 181,709 dwt Capesize bulk carrier, built in 2010 by Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Japan, which was renamed M/V Patriotship, and the second is a 176,925 dwt Capesize bulk carrier, built in 2006 by Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Japan, which was renamed M/V Tradership.
Taking advantage of the strong market conditions, Seanergy fixed the M/V Patriotship proactively at $31,000 per day for a period employment of 12 to 18 months with a major European cargo operator. Additionally, the M/V Tradership has been fixed for a period employment of 11 to 15 months with a major South Korean industrial company at an index-linked rate based on the Baltic Capesize Index. Both time charters are expected to commence promptly, upon finalization of the customary handover process.
Moreover, the Company is in advanced discussions with a leading Asian financial institution to finance part of the acquisition price of the M/V Patriotship through a sale and leaseback structure at competitive terms.
Stamatis Tsantanis, the Company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, stated:
“I am pleased to announce the timely delivery of our fourteenth and fifteenth Capesize vessels and the immediate commencement of their respective period employments.
We are also excited to initiate business relationships with two additional reputable charterers. Including these deliveries, 87% of our operating fleet is employed under advantageous medium to long-term charters.
At the financing front, we have secured competitively-priced financings for our recent vessel acquisitions, as previously announced, which will further enhance our strong liquidity position and reduce the Company’s average cash interest expense.
We believe Seanergy is optimally positioned to take advantage of the rising market conditions.”