TBS International plc Takes Delivery of Its Third Newbuild Roymar Class
Multipurpose Tweendecker

DUBLIN, IRELAND, Sep 02, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX)

TBS International plc (NASDAQ: TBSI) announced today that it has taken delivery of the newly-constructed vessel M/V Montauk Maiden from Nantong Yahua Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd.

The M/V Montauk Maiden is the third in a series of six "Roymar Class" 34,000 dwt multipurpose tweendecker vessels that the Company has ordered with China Communications Construction Company Ltd./ Nantong Yahua Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd. for a purchase price of $35.4 million per vessel. This vessel, like its sister ships, has box-shaped holds, open hatches and fully retractable hydraulic tweendecks, is geared with 35 and 40 ton cranes combinable up to 80 tons, and has a modern fuel-efficient engine enabling the vessel to operate effectively at 15 knots.

Of the remaining three vessels, the Company expects to take delivery of one vessel at the end of 2010 and two in 2011 and TBS has in place the requisite bank financing for these.

With the delivery of this vessel, TBS' current fleet expands to 49 vessels with an aggregate of 1.48 million dwt, consisting of 27 tweendeckers and 22 handymax/ handysize bulk carriers.

Joseph E. Royce, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented: "We are pleased to have taken delivery of our third newbuilding Roymar Class Tweendecker, the M/V Montauk Maiden, expanding our operational fleet to a total of 49 vessels. The addition of this vessel to our fleet enhances our operational efficiency and versatility."

About TBS International plc
TBS is a fully-integrated transportation service company that provides worldwide shipping solutions to a diverse client base of industrial shippers. Through the TBS Five Star Service consisting of ocean transportation, operations, logistics, port services, and strategic planning, TBS offers total project coordination and door-to-door supply chain management. The TBS shipping network operates liner, parcel and dry bulk services, supported by a fleet of multipurpose tweendeckers and handysize and handymax bulk carriers, including specialized heavy-lift vessels and newbuild tonnage. 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, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Visit our website at www.tbsship.com

TBS International Limited