Genco Shipping & Trading Limited Announces Plan to Extend Time Charter for Handymax Vessel

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE: GNK) today announced that it has reached an agreement to extend the time charter for the Genco Muse, a 2001-built Handymax vessel, with Global Maritime Investments Ltd. for approximately 10.5 to 12.5 months at a rate of $17,750 per day, less a 5% third-party brokerage commission. The time charter is expected to commence on or about January 21, 2010 following the expiration of the vessel's current time charter and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. Currently, Genco has approximately 58% of its fleet's estimated available days secured on contracts for the remainder of 2010.

About Genco Shipping & Trading Limited

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited transports iron ore, coal, grain, steel products and other drybulk cargoes along worldwide shipping routes. Genco Shipping & Trading Limited currently owns a fleet of 35 drybulk vessels, consisting of nine Capesize, eight Panamax, four Supramax, six Handymax and eight Handysize vessels, with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 2,903,000 dwt.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to the commencement of time charters and are based on management's current expectations and observations. Included among the factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking statements contained in this press release are the following: (i) changes in demand or rates in the drybulk shipping industry; (ii) changes in the supply of or demand for drybulk products, generally or in particular regions; (iii) changes in the supply of drybulk carriers including newbuilding of vessels or lower than anticipated scrapping of older vessels; (iv) changes in rules and regulations applicable to the cargo industry, including, without limitation, legislation adopted by international organizations or by individual countries and actions taken by regulatory authorities; (v) increases in costs and expenses including but not limited to: crew wages, insurance, provisions, repairs, maintenance and general and administrative expenses; (vi) the adequacy of our insurance arrangements; (vii) changes in general domestic and international political conditions; (viii) changes in the condition of the Company's vessels or applicable maintenance or regulatory standards (which may affect, among other things, our anticipated drydocking or maintenance and repair costs) and unanticipated drydock expenditures; (ix) the number of offhire days needed to complete repairs on vessels and the timing and amount of any reimbursement by our insurance carriers for insurance claims including offhire days; (x) the Company's acquisition or disposition of vessels; (xi) the completion of definitive documentation with respect to time charters; and other factors listed from time to time under "Risk Factors" and other sections of our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its subsequently filed reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.  

SOURCE Genco Shipping & Trading Limited