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| Statement |
|---|
| After successfully completing our tanker investment cycle in the third quarter of 2023, which delivered very strong returns for our shareholders, we have re-grown our fleet to eight dry-bulk vessels by investing $144 million to acquire seven ships without having to engage in dilutive capital raisings |
| The figures for 2022 are largely driven by the earnings of the tanker vessels through a very strong tanker market |
| On this note, we are pleased with the timing of our transition towards larger gearless bulkers as we are recently witnessing the strongest first quarter for the dry bulk market of the past decade |
| I am confident that we are very well placed to navigate a strong dry-bulk market environment and offer robust total returns throughout the next shipping cycles |
| Given the strong demand for metals and energy, driven mainly by manufacturing and infrastructure investments globally, it is worth noting that we expect the seaborne volume of related cargos to continue to increase |
| United Maritime has a strong balance sheet with high-quality index-linked fleet and proven commitment to shareholder rewards |
| We are very encouraged by the strong demand for iron ore, coal, grains and bauxite, which have not shown any signs of slowing down in the first months of 2024 |
| Overall, reduced fleet deliveries, in combination with steady demand growth, should provide a very positive backdrop for the dry bulk market over the next years |
| As a brief commercial guidance for 2024, since the start of the fourth quarter we have experienced a robust dry bulk market conditions given by healthy commodity demand and limited fleet supply |
| In its current form, I am confident that United Maritime presents investors with a very potent platform to benefit from the positive fundamentals of the dry bulk market, continuing to deliver a profitable performance with high capital returns and significant shareholder rewards |
| In the Cape Side segment, we have witnessed high demand for iron ore and bauxite imports coinciding with increased Brazilian iron ore exports that contributed to high Atlantic basin activity, therefore leading to a very strong market both in Q4 2023 as well as in the first quarter of 2024 |
| With the market having already rebounded and the rather optimistic outlook for the period ahead, as discussed by Stamatios, we expect profitability to improve in the coming quarters following the full deployment of our dry bulk fleet |
| So, we did cut the losses and we, of course, did a very good risk control |
| We also marked another profitable year generating adjusted EBITDA of $18.9 million and net income of $0.2 million |
| This year, we are focusing on improving our overall financing profile, given the fact that United has now, two years after its inception, enhanced its position within the global shipping financing spectrum |
| And we're confident that we're going to achieve such levels |
| Given the recent strength in freight futures, we have started to fix some of our second quarter operating days at considerably higher levels |
| Stamatios Tsantanis Excellent |
| Even though 2023 served as a transitional year for our company, we marked a threefold increase of the bulk value of our fleet by investing $144 million to acquire seven ships including the implied value of the bare boat team vessels with purchase options, all this was accomplished organically and avoiding any equity offering dilution for our shareholders |
| Commenting on the commercial performance of our fleet, all our vessels operate on index-linked time charters providing direct exposure to the positive fundamentals of the dry bulk market |
| On the expense side, we have managed to reduce our daily operating expenses and daily cash G&As on a per vessel basis and expect further optimization going forward as United will be navigating its second full 12-month period of operations |
| Good |
| Good to hear from you again |
| Finally, before turning the call back to Stamatios, I would like to remind once more that all the significant flip growth last year was achieved without any dilution of our investors while being consistent on our dividend distributions and our share buyback program |
| We're all well |
| At the same time, we are fully consistent with our commitment to reward our shareholders both through cash dividends as well as share buybacks |
| We always evaluate the best way to return capital to our shareholders in conjunction with the company's liquidity needs and our aim is to continue to engage in share buybacks by means of stabilizing the share price |
| Following the profitable sale of our last tanker vessel in the third quarter of 2023, the fourth quarter marked our first period operating purely as a dry bulk company |
| Stamatios Tsantanis Good afternoon |
| A warm welcome also from my side |
| Statement |
|---|
| For the Panamax market, low water levels in the Panama Canal and increased congestion at Brazil loading ports played an important role in reducing effective vessel supply, while the Red Sea tensions since December have introduced further inefficiencies in the world trading fleet |
| Profitability in the year was impacted by low freight rates in the dry bulk space in the first nine months of the year and the gradual deliveries of the seven dry bulk vessels through the year, resulting in reduced operating date and additional one-off expenses related to the takeover of these vessels |
| But at the same time, we have kind of cut the profits of the company for Q1 |
| Looking ahead into the next two years, net dry bulk fleet growth is expected to be lower than 2% per year, which we believe forms a sound basis for market conditions going forward |
| Tate Sullivan And then for the G&A in the quarter declined sequentially to about $2.2 million to $2.7 million |
| It appears that our hedging was a bit premature, but we aim to provide downside protection against the seasonal weakness of the dry bulk market in the first quarter of the year |
| Our adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was $4.6 million while a net loss of $0.7 million was recorded |
| Of course, we didn't know at the time that Q1 of 2024 would be the strongest Q1 of the last 10, 15 years |
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