Paragon Shipping Announces Early Termination of Charter

ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon Shipping Inc. (NYSE: PRGN) ("Paragon Shipping" or the "Company"), announced today that Deiulemar Compagnia di Navigazione SpA, the charterer of the M/V Friendly Seas (the "Vessel"), a 2008-built 58,779 dwt Supramax bulkcarrier (the "Charterer"), has continued to fail to provide payment due since January 5 and has failed to provide the Vessel with voyage instructions. Accordingly, Paragon Shipping has provided written notice to the Charterer of the termination of the charter, but has received no response.  Paragon Shipping is currently seeking alternative employment for the Vessel and will seek damages for the Charterer's breach. There can be no assurance that Paragon Shipping will be able to employ the Vessel at similar rates to those under the original charter or that the Company would be able to recover any claimable amounts from the Charterer.  Current spot charter rates are significantly lower than the contracted rate under the original charter.

About Paragon Shipping

Paragon Shipping is a Marshall Islands-based international shipping company with executive offices in Athens, Greece specializing in the transportation of drybulk cargoes. The Company's current fleet consists of ten drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of 704,772 dwt. In addition, Paragon Shipping entered into contracts for the construction of four Handysize drybulk carriers that are scheduled to be delivered in 2012 and two 4,800 TEU Containerships that are scheduled to be delivered in 2013 and, as a result, will increase the fleet size to fourteen drybulk vessels with a total carrying capacity of 853,572 dwt and two Containerships with a total carrying capacity of 9,600 TEU. Paragon Shipping has granted Box Ships Inc., an affiliated company, the option to acquire its two Containerships under construction.  For more information, visit: www.paragonship.com. The information contained on the Company's website does not constitute part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for drybulk shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors, as well as other risks that have been included in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Paragon Shipping Inc.