OCEANFREIGHT INC. ANNOUNCES MUTUAL TERMINATION OF M/T OLINDA TIME CHARTER AND DELIVERY OF M/T TIGANI
October 16, 2008 - Athens, Greece - OceanFreight Inc., (NASDAQ:OCNF) a global
provider of seaborne transportation services today announced that it has taken
delivery of the 1991 built Aframax tanker M/T Tigani which immediately
commenced its new time charter with Heidmar for a period of about one year at a
gross daily rate of $29,800. The Company also intends to take delivery of the 1990
built Aframax tanker M/T Tamara this week.
In addition, the Company and the charterer have mutually terminated the M/T Olinda
charter on completion of her present voyage. The Olinda will be entered into the
Blue Fin Tankers Pool for a minimum period of 12 months. Blue Fin is managed by
Heidmar and consists of Suezmax vessels. The vessel’s earnings will be derived from
the pool’s total net earnings, improving financial performance through higher
utilization and operating efficiencies.
As part of the termination of the charter for M/T Olinda, the Company and the
charterer have agreed to a mutual release of claims. In this connection, the Company
has received cash compensation of approximately US$ 1.2 million and ownership of
all bunkers on board the vessel.
Anthony Kandylidis, the OceanFreight’s President and Chief Executive Officer,
commented:
“In this challenging environment we have managed to quickly and efficiently
rearrange the Olinda time charter without jeopardizing the financial standing of the
Company. We are particularly pleased to leverage on the leadership, track record and
expertise of Heidmar in commercial ship and pool management. It is expected that
Blue Fin will operate at least a dozen suezmaxes by the end of 2009. With the
employment of the M/T Olinda in the pool, we can benefit from a robust tanker spot
market while participating in the earnings of a pool of vessels which, in turn, allows
us to attain scale and operating efficiencies. We remain committed to our strategy of
providing our shareholders with stable and sustainable cash flows from multiple
shipping sectors and continue to believe in the long term outlook of the shipping
markets.”
About OceanFreight Inc.
OceanFreight Inc. was incorporated in 2006 to acquire high quality secondhand
vessels and deploy them on medium and long term charters. The Company began
operations with the delivery of its first vessel in June 2007 and currently owns and
operates a fleet of twelve vessels, consisting of one Capesize drybulk carrier, eight
Panamax drybulk carriers, one Suezmax tanker and two Aframax tanker with a total
carrying capacity of 1,074,682 dwt, and has entered into an agreement to acquire one
additional Aframax tanker, for delivery in the fourth quarter 2008, with a total
carrying capacity of 95,951 dwt.
OceanFreight’s Inc. common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market where it
trades under the symbol "OCNF".
OceanFreight Inc. press release
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