Quintana Finalizes Timecharters for 9 Ships

Source: Maritime

Quintana Maritime Limited has secured the final nine Kamsarmaxes under its master time charter with Bunge S.A. for 2010 at an average daily rate of approximately $22,000 per day, which is at the ceiling rate of the band for that period. With these fixtures, Quintana has completed its negotiations with Bunge for the entire term of the master time charter, ends December 31, 2010.

Quintana expects to generate approximately $68 million of net revenues in 2010 from these nine vessels. Consequently, almost 68% of Quintana’s expected net operating days of the entire fleet are secured at fixed rates in 2010, corresponding to approximately $187 million in expected revenues for the fleet. The Company has already secured approximately 96% of its entire fleet expected net operating days for 2007, 81% for 2008 and approximately 74% for 2009, on fixed charters, corresponding to approximately $215 million, $209 million and $186 million in expected revenues, respectively.

“We are very pleased to have finalized the pricing negotiations with Bunge for the entire fleet we acquired from Metrobulk in May 2006,” said Stamatis Molaris, President and CEOof Quintana Maritime. “Our commitment to provide significant cash flow visibility to our shareholders is of paramount importance to our articulated strategy We believe that these fixtures will solidify the long-term cash flow generation ability of our company and that, in light of the acquisition price paid for the Metrobulk fleet, will enhance expected returns to our shareholders.”