Stelmar News

Discussion at INTERTANKO's Council and Executive Committee meetings in London last week emphasized the depth work by the association and its members since the last Council meeting in April. This has reached from lobbying to both industry and politicians, to discussions and negotiations at IMO; from work in the EU and US to Asia; from environmental issues to industry relationships and chemical issues; and also an increasing range of member services. INTERTANKO has actively engaged in matters arising from the Prestige accident - specifically the accelerated phase-out of single-hull tankers, restriction on the carriage of heavy oils to double-hull tankers, expansion of the Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS).

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. has received the Cabo Hellas, a 2003-built double-hull Panamax tanker. The newbuilding is the first of the eleven new vessels that Stelmar expects to receive in late 2003 through September 2004. This program will enable Stelmar to grow its operating days by 29% in 2004 and an additional 9% in 2005. As previously announced, the Cabo Hellas was signed to a two-year profitable time charter contract with Cape Tankers. Peter R. Goodfellow, Chief Executive Officer and President of Stelmar Shipping Ltd., commented, "We are extremely pleased to receive delivery of this new vessel, which will immediately contribute to our earnings.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. announced that it has completed, with the assistance of the Fortis Bank, a seven year sale-lease back transaction for two of its coated Aframax tankers, the 1998-built Takamar and the 1999-built Jacamar. The deal will produce net proceeds of $71 million. Both vessels will remain in the Stelmar fleet and will continue to earn in excess of $19,000 per day for the balance of their existing time charters of more than two years. Stelmar will realize net cash from the sale of $25 million and will record a non-operating book gain of $1 million. The sale-lease back arrangements will be completed during December 2003. Peter Goodfellow…

Soaring steel prices are now a major concern for leading shipbuilders. Uncertainty about spiraling material costs is even causing some yards to defer new orders, market reports indicate. “The lack of steel in some shipyards of the three major shipbuilding nations is causing newbuildings for 2007 and 2008 to be delayed,” says New York tanker broker Poten & Partners in a recent market report. “Some shipyards are not accepting any more ship orders beyond late 2007 or 2008 delivery because of the lack of berth availability…

Soaring steel prices are now a major concern for leading shipbuilders. Uncertainty about spiraling material costs is even causing some yards to defer new orders, market reports indicate. "The lack of steel in some shipyards of the three major shipbuilding nations is causing newbuildings for 2007 and 2008 to be delayed," says New York tanker broker Poten & Partners in a recent market report. "Some shipyards are not accepting any more ship orders beyond late 2007 or 2008 delivery because of the lack of berth availability, insecurity stemming from the dollar's weakness, as well as uncertain steel cost," the broker says. China may as well build ships, says Poten, as "they're taking all the steel".

OMI Corporation said that it has withdrawn its previously announced offer to merge with Stelmar Shipping following Stelmar's rejection of its merger proposal and its decision to refrain from entering into discussions with OMI. The company intends to file an amended 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Craig H. Stevenson, Chairman and CEO of OMI said, "Based on the actions of the Stelmar Board, specifically their complete unwillingness to discuss our offer with us and their deliberate decision to thwart shareholders' rights by purporting to amend the Company's bylaws, we have decided to withdraw our offer. Since we made our offer, we have received overwhelming support from Stelmar shareholders.

The M/T Pearlmar, operated by Stelmar Tankers was inspected by US customs authorities on June 9, 2004 after arriving from Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Between 70 and 100 pounds of cocaine were found in the transom space above the rudder, which is located below the water line outside the hull of the ship. Following the inspection, the vessel was not detained and no arrests were made. Pearlmar is discharging its cargo as planned and authorities have not advised us of any delays. Stelmar is a signatory to the voluntary U.S. Customs Sea Carrier Initiative Agreement and are cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004. Stelmar reported its 38th consecutive quarter of profitability since inception and its 14th since going public in March of 2001. For the second quarter of 2004, the Company reported net income of $15,840,000, or $0.90 per fully diluted share, compared with net income of $4,489,000, or $0.26 per fully diluted share, for the second quarter of 2003. Net income for the quarter included a charge of $760,000, or $0.04 per fully diluted share, representing a monthly accrual for fees of financial advisors involved in the Company's strategic review process.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd., announced that it has taken delivery of the M/T Pearlmar, a newly built 69.2 dwt Panamax tanker from the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Limited in South Korea. The first of a series of four sister ships being constructed by Daewoo, the M/T Pearlmar vessel has entered into a previously announced two-year time charter with Adam Maritime Corporation. Including these vessels, Stelmar now has twenty vessels on time charter. Including the three other Panamax tankers and the product tanker, which are all scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2002, Stelmar has 27 ships with a total of 1,526,178 dwt cargo carrying capacity.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd., announced that it has taken delivery of the Jademar, a newly built 69,697 dwt Panamax tanker from the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Ltd of South Korea. The Jademar has entered into a previously announced 24-month time charter with Adam Maritime Corporation. The Jademar is a sister ship of the Pearlmar, which was delivered in January and also entered into a previously announced twenty four month time charter with Adam Maritime Corporation. Peter R. Goodfellow, Chief Executive Officer and President commented, ``With the delivery of the Jademar, Stelmar has successfully received delivery of three tankers in a series of five newbuildings for 2002 and have deployed all the ships on time charters.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. announced operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2002. For the first quarter, the Company reported net income of $7,962,000, or $0.67 per basic share, compared with $3,970,000 or $0.72 per basic share, for the first quarter of 2001. The weighted average number of basic shares used in the computations was 11,874,750 and 5,535,861 respectively as the Company completed its initial public offering in 2001. Operating income increased to $12,296,000 from $7,280,000 in the first quarter of 2001. EBITDA for the quarter was $19,892,000 compared with $11,016,000 for last year's first quarter. On a time charter basis…

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. has taken delivery of the Rubymar, a new 69,697 dwt Panamax tanker from the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Ltd. of South Korea. The Rubymar has entered into a previously announced 24-month time charter with SONAP (National Oil Company of Chile) for $17,500 per day. Rubymar is a sister ship to the Jademar and the Pearlmar, which were delivered in the first quarter and entered into previously announced 24-month time charters with Adam Maritime Corporation. On April 17, 2002 Stelmar announced that it priced its secondary offering. Including the over-allotment option exercised by its underwriters, Stelmar sold 4.9 million shares of the Company's common stock at $14.00 per share.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. announced it has signed a new contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Ltd. of South Korea to purchase a series of five Panamax newbuildings. These five tankers are sister ships to Stelmar's three Panamax tankers already delivered in 2002 and the three to be delivered during second quarter of 2002. Peter Goodfellow, Chief Executive Officer and President commented, "This newbuilding program for five additional Panamax tankers will make Stelmar the largest owner of modern Panamax tankers. The Company is positioned to benefit from attractive long-term fundamentals of the Panamax market, with almost 50 percent of the world Panamax fleet being over 20 years old and expected to be phased out.

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. has won a $155 million order to build five oil tankers for Stelmar Shipping. Daewoo Shipbuilding will construct five crude oil tankers, which carry 69,000 tons of crude oil each. The ships will be delivered to the Greek company by the end of 2004, according Daewoo Shipbuilding.

Around the world, people involved with shipping are booking flights to Greece and preparing to do business at the Posidonia 2002 International Shipping Exhibition, held on the Piraeus waterfront from June 4-7, 2002. With the Greek market worth a conservative $16 billion per annum, there is plenty of incentive. The business week begins with The Posidonia Congress and a program of high level international presentations and debate, at the Megaron, Athens Concert Hall on Monday, June 3. Posidonia's attraction for exhibitors and visitors is not hard to see. Greek shipowners control the biggest fleet in the world. Their drive towards fleet renewal and regeneration is creating multi billion dollar opportunities throughout the international maritime industry.

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. announced it has secured the Vessel Jamar, a double hull product carrier, on a one-year time charter contract for $12,500 per day. Peter Goodfellow, CEO and president commented, "We continue to sign profitable time charter contracts aimed at providing our shareholders with significant earnings visibility. Stelmar has secured 77 percent of the net operating days on profitable time charters for 2002 and 44 percent for 2003, which is equivalent to $128 million and $87 million in revenue, respectively."

Stelmar Shipping Ltd. today announced that it has taken delivery of two double-hull Panamax tankers, the Rosemar and the Goldmar, from the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Ltd. Both tankers have entered into previously announced multi-year time charters. The time charter contract for the Rosemar is for twenty-four months at a rate of $17,500 per day. The contract for the Goldmar is for five years at a rate of $18,500 per day. The Rosemar and Goldmar are sister ships to the Rubymar, Jademar and the Pearlmar, which were delivered in the first four months of 2002, and entered into twenty-four month time charters at an average rate of $18,000 per day. The Rosemar is the last ship to be delivered as part of the 2002 Panamax newbuilding program.

Tanker firm Stelmar Marine Holdings Ltd. officially applied on Wednesday for listing on the Cyprus Stock Exchange. The company was established in 1992 by Greek Cypriot entrepreneur Stelios Haji Ioannou and owns and operates a fleet of 12 tankers with an average age of eight years. The company is planning to raise $54.6 million through the Cyprus Stock Exchange for further expansion of the fleet. The amount will be raised through the issue of 42 million new shares of face value $1 at the flotation price of $1.30, the company said. Approximately 27 million shares will be placed with private investors and 15 million will be offered to the public.

Osprey Maritime Ltd. agreed to sell 10 product tankers to Greek shipping company Stelmar Shipping Ltd. for $216 million. Osprey said that this is in line with its revised strategy of focusing on the ownership and operation of LNG carriers. Athens-based Stelmar was set up in 1992 by Haji-Ioannou, owner of cutprice airline easyJet. Separately, Osprey said it had also agreed to sell another tanker to U.S. OMI Corp. for $14 million. OMI will fund the purchase via cash of $7.7 million and an issue of 900,000 OMI shares at $7.00 each, which amounts to $6.3 million, Osprey said. Shipping magnate John Fredriksen, whose World Shipholding Group now holds a 91 percent stake in Osprey…

Stelios Haji-Ioannou's tanker company Stelmar is poised to swoop on a fleet of modern petroleum products tankers but the deal has become ensnared by a bitter legal battle. The dispute is between the tankers' owner, First International, controlled by the high-profile shipping entrepreneur Paul Slater, and the company's financiers Berliner Bank, industry sources say. "Berliner Bank is leaning heavily on (Slater) to sign the company across to them, but the ships are mainly financed through U.S. bonds -- and the bondholders want to sell to Stelmar. They won't let Paul sign the company across to Berliner," said one industry source. The fleet…

Airline chief Stelios Haji-Ioannou's tanker company Stelmar has abandoned its bid for the First International fleet of clean tankers and is now reportedly considering those of Singapore-listed Osprey Maritime, Reuters reported. "Stelmar is looking at the Osprey ships, because the deal with First International is now looking too messy and too time-consuming," a New York-based source told Reuters. Stelmar's London office declined to comment. Shipping magnate John Fredriksen, whose World Shipholding Group holds a 54 percent stake in Osprey, announced in late December that he planned to sell off Osprey's 14 clean tankers to generate cash to invest in gas carriers. The source said that U.S.

Airline chief Stelios Haji-Ioannou's tanker company Stelmar has abandoned its bid for the First International fleet of clean tankers and is now reportedly considering those of Singapore-listed Osprey Maritime, Reuters reported. "Stelmar is looking at the Osprey ships, because the deal with First International is now looking too messy and too time-consuming," a New York-based source told Reuters. Stelmar's London office declined to comment. Shipping magnate John Fredriksen, whose World Shipholding Group holds a 54 percent stake in Osprey, announced in late December that he planned to sell off Osprey's 14 clean tankers to generate cash to invest in gas carriers. The source said that U.S.

Slovenian shipping firm Intereuropa and port operator Luka Koper canceled a planned merger because the government was demanding the right to veto any management decisions in the new firm. The two companies had planned to merge on July 1. The state owns 51 percent of Luka, while Intereuropa is privately owned. The state's equity in the new company would have been 35.7 percent. "There will be no merger under such conditions where the government would have the right to veto practically every management decision," Radovan Vrabec, Intereuropa's deputy chief executive, said. He said the two companies would be ready to continue merger talks if the government eased its demands. Vrabec said the two firms would not suffer short-term damage due to the failure of the merger.