OceanPal Inc.
Unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein, the terms “OceanPal,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to OceanPal Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. The following management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and their notes attached hereto. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For additional information relating to our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation, please see our annual report on form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the with the SEC on April 15, 2024.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the Six Months ended June 30, 2024
Our Operations
We charter our vessels to customers pursuant to time charter trips with short to medium duration, although we may also charter our vessels in the spot market and on longer-term charters.
Fleet Employment Table as of September 5, 2024
OceanPal Inc.’s fleet is employed as follows:
| | Vessel | | Sister | | | Gross Rate | | | | Delivery Date | Redelivery Date | | |
| | BUILT / DWT | | Ships* | | | (USD/Day) | | Com** | Charterers | to Charterers*** | to Owners**** | | Notes |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 Panamax Bulk Carriers | | | | |
1 | | PROTEFS 2004 / 73,630
| | A | | $
| 13,000 | | 5.00% | CHINA RESOURCE CHARTERING LIMITED | 14-Apr-24 | 14-Jul-24 | | |
| |
| | | | $
| 8,600 | | 5.00% | BG SHIPPING (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. | 14-Jul-24 | 14-Aug-24 | | |
| | | | | | $
| 8,400 | | 5.00% | LOTUS OCEAN TRANSPORTATION (HK) LIMITED | 14-Aug-24 | 10-Sep-24 | | 1
|
| | | | | | $
| 9,400 | | 5.00% | JOINT VISION SHIPPING CO., LIMITED | 10-Sep-24 | 05-Oct-24 | | 2,3
|
2 | | CALIPSO 2005 / 73,691 | | A | | $
| 13,250 | | 5.00% | COFCO INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT SA | 6-Apr-24 | 3-Aug-24 | | |
| |
| | | | $ | 8,500 | | 5.00% | SEAPOL SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. | 13-Aug-24 | 3-Sep-24 | |
|
| | | | | | $
| 10,150 | | 5.00% | ASL BULK SHIPPING LIMITED | 3-Sep-24 | 02-Dec-24 – 01-Jan-25 | | 4
|
3 | | MELIA 2005 / 76,225 | | | | $
| 15,250 | | 5.00% | OLDENDORFF CARRIERS GMBH & CO. KG | 1-May-24 | 4-Aug-24 | | |
| |
| | | | $ | 11,750 | | 5.00% | CHINA RESOURCE CHARTERING LIMITED | 4-Aug-24 | 12-Nov-24 | | 5
|
| | | | | | | | | | 2 Capesize Bulk Carriers
| | | | |
4 | | SALT LAKE CITY 2005 / 171,810
| | | | $
| 23,000 | | 5.00% | DEYESION SHIPPING & TRADING COMPANY LIMITED | 1-Jun-24 | 27-Jul-24 | | |
| | | | $ | 19,000 | | 5.00% | 27-Jul-24 | 19-Sep-24 | | 6
|
5 | | BALTIMORE 2005 / 177,243
| | | | $
| 22,000 | | 5.00% | RICHLAND BULK PTE. LTD. | 9-May-24 | 15-Sep-24 – 15-Nov-24 | | 7
|
| | | | | | | | | | 1 MR2 Tanker | | | | |
6 | | ZEZE START 2009 / 49,999
| | | | | - | | - | - | - | - | | 8
|
* | Each dry bulk carrier is a "sister ship", or closely similar, to other dry bulk carriers that have the same letter. |
** | Total commission percentage paid to third parties. |
*** | In case of newly acquired vessel with new time charter attached, this date refers to the expected/actual date of delivery of the vessel to the Company. |
**** | Range of redelivery dates, with the actual date of redelivery being at the Charterers' option, but subject to the terms, conditions, and exceptions of the particular charterparty. |
1 | Redelivery date on an estimated time charter trip duration of about 27 days. |
2 | Estimated delivery date to the Charterers. |
3 | Redelivery date on an estimated time charter trip duration of about 25 days. |
4
| Redelivery date on an estimated time charter trip duration of about 90-120 days. |
5
| Redelivery date on an estimated time charter trip duration of about 100 days. |
6
| Redelivery date on an estimated time charter trip duration of about 53 days. |
7
| Vessel has been sold and it is expected to be delivered to her new Owners by latest November 20, 2024. |
8
| Vessel is expected to be delivered to the Company by latest September 20, 2024. |
Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
We believe that important measures for analyzing trends in our results of operations consist of the following:
Ownership days. Ownership days are the aggregate number of days in a period during which each vessel in our fleet has been owned by us. Ownership days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that we record during a period.
Available days. Available days are the number of our Ownership days less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to scheduled repairs or repairs under guarantee, vessel upgrades or special surveys and the aggregate amount of time that we spend positioning our vessels for such events. The shipping industry uses available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels should be capable of generating revenues.
Operating days. Operating days are the number of Available days in a period less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to any reason, including unforeseen circumstances. The shipping industry uses operating days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period during which vessels actually generate revenues.
Fleet Utilization. We calculate Fleet utilization by dividing the number of our Operating days during a period by the number of our Available days during the period. The shipping industry uses fleet utilization to measure a company’s efficiency in finding suitable employment for its vessels and minimizing the number of days that its vessels are off-hire for reasons other than scheduled repairs or repairs under guarantee, vessel upgrades, special surveys or vessel positioning for such events.
TCE rate. Time charter equivalent rate, or TCE rate, is defined as our time charter revenues less voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of our Available days during such period, which is consistent with industry standards. Voyage expenses primarily include port charges, bunker (fuel) expenses, canal charges and commissions. TCE rate is a non-GAAP measure, and management believes it is useful to investors because it is a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare daily earnings generated by vessels on time charters with daily earnings generated by vessels on voyage charters, because charter hire rates for vessels on voyage charters are generally not expressed in per day amounts while charter hire rates for vessels on time charters are generally expressed in such amounts.
Daily vessel operating expenses. Daily vessel operating expenses, which include crew wages and related costs, the cost of insurance, expenses relating to repairs and maintenance, the costs of spares and consumable stores, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses, are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by Ownership days for the relevant period.
The following tables reflect our Ownership days, Available days, Operating days, Fleet utilization and TCE rate and daily operating expenses for our total fleet, as well as a calculation for our TCE rates, for the periods indicated:
| | For the six months ended June 30, 2024 | | | For the six months ended June 30, 2023 | |
Ownership days | | | 910 | | | | 867 | |
Available days | | | 903 | | | | 847 | |
Operating days | | | 884 | | | | 840 | |
Fleet utilization | | | 97.9 | % | | | 99.2 | % |
Amounts in the table below are in U.S dollars | | For the six months ended June 30, 2024 | | | For the six months ended June 30, 2023 | |
Average Daily Results: | | | | | | |
Time charter equivalent (TCE) rate | | $ | 12,189 | | | $ | 9,453 | |
Daily vessel operating expenses | | $ | 6,132 | | | $ | 5,809 | |
Amounts in the table below are in thousands of U.S dollars except for Available days and TCE rate | | For the six months ended June 30, 2024 | | | For the six months ended June 30, 2023 | |
Time charter revenues | | $ | 12,424 | | | $ | 9,283 | |
Less: Voyage expenses | | | (1,417 | ) | | | (1,276 | ) |
Time charter equivalent revenues | | $ | 11,007 | | | $ | 8,007 | |
Available days | | | 903 | | | | 847 | |
Time charter equivalent (TCE) rate | | $ | 12,189 | | | $ | 9,453 | |
Our results of operations are affected by numerous factors. The principal factors that have impacted the business during the fiscal periods presented in the following discussion and analysis and that are likely to continue to impact our business are the following:
Time Charter Revenues
Under our time charters, the charterer typically pays us a fixed daily charter hire rate and other compensation costs related to the charter contracts (such as ballast positioning compensation, holds cleaning compensation, etc.) and bears all voyage expenses, including the cost of bunkers (fuel oil) and port and canal charges. We remain responsible for paying the chartered vessel’s operating expenses, including the cost of crewing, insuring, repairing, and maintaining the vessel, the costs of spares and consumable stores, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses, and we also pay commissions to one or more unaffiliated ship brokers and to our related party managers for the arrangement of the relevant charter. However, our voyage results may be affected by differences in bunker prices as we may incur gain/loss on bunkers when the cost of the bunker fuel sold to the new charterer is greater or less than the cost of the bunker fuel acquired. Our revenues are driven primarily by the number of vessels in our fleet, the number of days during which our vessels operate and the daily charter hire rates that our vessels earn under charters, which, in turn, are affected by a number of factors, including:
| • | the duration of our charters; |
| • | our decisions relating to vessel acquisitions and disposals; |
| • | the amount of time that we spend positioning our vessels; |
| • | the amount of time that our vessels spend in undergoing drydock and/or special survey repairs; |
| • | foreseen and unforeseen maintenance and upgrade work; |
| • | the age, condition and specifications of our vessels; |
| • | levels of supply and demand in the shipping industry; and |
| • | other factors affecting spot market charter rates for our vessels. |
Vessels operating on time charters for a certain period of time provide more predictable cash flows over that period of time but can yield lower profit margins than vessels operating in the spot charter market during periods characterized by favorable market conditions. Vessels operating in the spot charter market generate revenues that are less predictable but may enable their owners to capture increased profit margins during periods of improvements in charter rates although their owners would be exposed to the risk of declining charter rates, which may have a materially adverse impact on financial performance. As we employ vessels on period charters, future spot charter rates may be higher or lower than the rates at which we have employed our vessels on period charters. Our time charter agreements subject us to counterparty risk. In depressed market conditions, charterers may seek to renegotiate the terms of their existing charter parties or avoid their obligations under those contracts. Should a counterparty fail to honor their obligations under agreements with us, we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Voyage Expenses
We incur voyage expenses that primarily consist of commissions and any gains or losses related to bunker prices as all of our vessels are typically employed under time charters that require the charterer to bear voyage expenses such as bunkers (fuel oil), port and canal charges. Although the charterer bears the cost of bunkers, our voyage expenses may be affected by differences in bunker prices, and we may record a gain or a loss deriving from such price differences as well as bunker consumption costs during periods when our vessels are repositioning, off-hire or idle. When a vessel is delivered to a charterer, bunkers are purchased by the charterer and sold back to us on the redelivery of the vessel. Bunkers’ gain, or loss, results when a vessel is redelivered by her charterer and delivered to the next charterer at different bunker prices, or quantities. We pay commissions on each charter to one or more unaffiliated ship brokers for arranging our charters. In addition, we pay commissions to DWM and Steamship for the provision of management and brokerage services, pursuant to the terms of our management agreements with these parties.
Vessel Operating Expenses
We remain responsible for paying the vessels’ operating expenses, including the cost of crewing, insuring, repairing and maintaining the vessel, the costs of spares and consumable stores, tonnage taxes, environmental and safety expenses. Our vessel operating expenses are expensed as incurred. Our vessel operating expenses generally represent fixed costs. Expenses for repairs and maintenance, however, tend to fluctuate from period to period because most repairs and maintenance works typically occur during periodic dry-dockings or special surveys. Our ability to control our vessels’ operating expenses also affects our financial results.
Vessel Depreciation
The cost of our vessels is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of each vessel. Depreciation is based on the cost of the vessel less its estimated salvage value. We estimate the useful life of our dry bulk vessels to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard, which we believe is common in the dry bulk shipping industry. Furthermore, we estimate the salvage values of our vessels based on historical average prices of the cost of the light-weight ton of vessels being scrapped, which we believe is common in the dry bulk shipping industry. When regulations place limitations on the ability of a vessel to trade on a worldwide basis, the vessel’s useful life is adjusted at the date such regulations are adopted.
General and Administrative Expenses
We incur general and administrative expenses which typically include compensation and fees towards our directors and consultants, restricted stock awards amortization cost, lumpsum brokerage fees, traveling, directors’ and officers’ insurance, promotional and other expenses of a listed public company, such as legal and professional expenses and other general corporate expenses. These expenses are relatively fixed and are not widely affected by the size of our fleet.
Results of Operations
Six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to six months ended June 30, 2023
(in millions of U.S. dollars) | | Six months ended June 30, 2024 | | | Six months ended June 30, 2023 | |
Results of Operations | | | | | | |
Time charter revenues | | $ | 12.42 | | | $ | 9.28 | |
Voyage expenses | | | (1.41 | ) | | | (1.28 | ) |
Vessel operating expenses | | | (5.58 | ) | | | (5.04 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization of deferred charges | | | (3.44 | ) | | | (4.04 | ) |
Impairment loss | | | (1.09 | ) | | | - | |
General and administrative expenses | | | (3.29 | ) | | | (2.61 | ) |
Support agreement costs | | | (6.75 | ) | | | - | |
Management fees to related parties | | | (0.63 | ) | | | (0.61 | ) |
Change in fair value of warrants’ liability | | | - | | | | 6.34 | |
Finance costs | | | - | | | | (0.90 | ) |
Interest income | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.21 | |
Loss on equity method investment | | | (0.02 | ) | | | - | |
Other income | | | 0.02 | | | | - | |
Net (loss)/income and comprehensive (loss)/income | | | (9.51 | ) | | | 1.35 | |
Net (loss)/income and comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to common stockholders | | $ | (10.32 | ) | | $ | 0.02 | |
Time Charter Revenues. Time charter revenues increased by $3.14 million, to $12.42 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $9.28 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, mainly due to (i) the increase in our average time charter rates as a result of the overall stronger dry bulk market conditions during the six months ended June 30, 2024, and (ii) the increase in our Operating days to 884 in the six months ended June 30, 2024 from 840 in the six months ended June 30, 2023, due to the increased size of our fleet.
Voyage Expenses. Voyage expenses increased by $0.13 million, to $1.41 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $1.28 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, due to the increase in commissions as a result of the increase in time charter revenues, which was partially offset by the decrease in bunker losses primarily arising from the price differences in the cost of bunker fuel paid by the Company to the previous charterers on vessel re-delivery and the bunker fuel sold to the new charterers on same vessel delivery under certain of our charters.
Vessel Operating Expenses. Vessel operating expenses increased by $0.54 million, to $5.58 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $5.04 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, mainly due to the increase in our Ownership days, as well as the increased scheduled repair costs for one of our vessels.
Depreciation and amortization of deferred charges. Depreciation and amortization of deferred charges decreased by $0.60 million, to $3.44 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $4.04 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023, due to the $1.0 million decrease in depreciation expense following (i) the change in the estimated scrap rates of our vessels from $250 per lightweight ton to $400, effective July 1, 2023, and, (ii) the classification of the M/V Baltimore as current asset held for sale, partially offset by the increase in our ownership days for which depreciation expense is calculated. Such decrease was further partially offset by the $0.4 million increase in deferred dry-docking amortization costs due to three vessels incurring deferred amortization costs during the six months ended June 30, 2024, versus two vessels during the same period in 2023. No vessel underwent dry-dock during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Impairment loss. Impairment loss in the six months ended June 30, 2024 amounted to $1.09 million and related to the classification of the M/V Baltimore as current asset held for sale, which was measured at its fair value (agreed sale price) less estimated costs to sell. No impairment loss was recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2023.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.68 million, to $3.29 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $2.61 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023. This increase is mainly attributed to additional expenses incurred by the Company mainly related to compensation cost of restricted convertible Series C preferred stock awards in effect under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, increased insurance and legal costs, partially offset by a decrease in various other professional charges essential for the conduct of our business.
Support agreement costs. Support agreement costs in the six months ended June 30, 2024, related to the Support Agreement that we entered into on May 17, 2024 with Sphinx Investment Corp. (“Sphinx”) which provides for a payment of $6.75 million in exchange for Sphinx’s support and for the reimbursement of certain of its out of pocket and other expenses.
Management fees to related parties. Management fees to related parties increased by $0.02 million, to $0.63 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.61 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023. This variation was mainly due to the increase in the size of our fleet period over period and the resulting increase in our Ownership days. Management fees paid for each period were in accordance with the terms of the management agreements then in place.
Change in fair value of warrant liability. Changes in fair value of warrants’ liability was nil for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to a gain of $6.34 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The 2023 gain, resulted from (i) the change in the fair value of the liability for the outstanding as of June 30, 2023 private placement warrants as compared to the fair value that those warrants were initially measured, and (ii) the fair value changes from initial measurement date to the various settlement dates for those private placement warrants that were exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The private placement warrants were fully exercised within 2023, whereas there was no such transaction in the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Finance costs. Finance costs were nil for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The $0.90 million finance costs incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2023, represent the pro rata portion of the aggregate fees and costs incurred in the registered direct offering and the private placement of February 2023 allocated to the private placement warrants liability at their issuance date that were expensed as incurred as of such date.
Interest income. Interest income increased by $0.05 million, to $0.26 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.21 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023. The amount relates solely to interest earned from time deposits.
Impact of Inflation and Interest Rate Increases
We see near-term impacts on our business due to elevated inflation in the United States of America, Eurozone and other countries, including ongoing global prices pressures in the wake of the war in Ukraine, political unrest and conflicts in the Middle East, driving up energy prices, commodity prices, which continue to have a moderate effect on our operating expenses. Interest rates have increased rapidly and substantially as central banks in developed countries raise interest rates in an effort to subdue inflation. The eventual implications of tighter monetary policy, and potentially higher long-term interest rates may drive a higher cost of capital for our business.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have historically financed our capital requirements with cash flow from operations and proceeds from equity offerings. Our operating cash flow is generated from charters on our vessels, through our subsidiaries. Our main uses of funds have been capital expenditures for the acquisition of new vessels, expenditures incurred in connection with ensuring that our vessels comply with international and regulatory standards, our chemical tankers investment, and payments of dividends.
As of June 30, 2024, our contractual obligations related to (i) our Series C and Series D preferred shares dividends and, (ii) the aggregate contractual obligations of $2.75 million in connection with our investment in the construction of two chemical tankers, of which $1.375 million are expected to be due in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $1.375 million are expected to be due in the second quarter of 2025. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we paid cash dividends on our Series C and D preferred holders in the aggregate amount of $0.74 million which was funded through available cash. On June 20, 2024, and July 15, 2024, we declared, and on July 15, 2024, we paid through available cash, dividends on our issued and outstanding convertible Series C preferred stock and Series D preferred stock amounting to $0.18 million and $0.24 million, respectively. We intend to fund our contractual obligations as of June 30, 2024, with available cash and the anticipated net proceeds from the sale of the M/V Baltimore, expected to be concluded within the fourth quarter of 2024.
On July 15, 2024, we entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to acquire the M/T Zeze Start, a 2009 built MR2 tanker vessel, for an aggregate purchase price of $27.0 million from an entity controlled by a director of the Company. The vessel is expected to be delivered to the Company on or around September 9, 2024. No sale and purchase commissions were paid on the transaction to either party. Of the purchase price, $9.0 million was paid in cash at or prior to the delivery of the vessel, $10.9 million will be paid to the seller after the delivery of the vessel but not later than November 26, 2024, pursuant to a seller’s credit, and the remaining amount will be paid in the form of shares of the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock maximum two days after the delivery of the vessel. We intend to fund the balance of the vessel’s purchase price using part of the proceeds from the sale of the M/V Baltimore that is expected to be concluded by latest November 20, 2024.
We also incur capital expenditures for vessel improvements to meet new regulations and comply with international and regulatory standards. The loss of earnings associated with the decrease in operating days together with the capital needs for repairs and upgrades result in increased cash flow needs.
We will require capital to fund ongoing operations, vessel improvements to meet requirements under new regulations, the payment of dividends on our Series C and Series D preferred stock, as well as the chemical tankers investment. We intend to finance our future growth through a combination of cash generated from operations, proceeds from equity offerings and borrowings from debt transactions, as deemed appropriate by our management and board of directors.
As at June 30, 2024, working capital, which is current assets minus current liabilities, amounted to $31.21 million.
Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2024, was $10.80 million. We consider highly liquid investments such as time deposits and certificates of deposit with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are held in U.S. dollars.
Cash Flows
Net Cash (Used in)/Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities of the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2024, amounted to $3.30 million, compared to $0.56 million net cash provided from operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was attributable to the decrease of $4.28 million in net income after adjusting for non-cash items (such decrease discussed under “Results of Operations” in detail, mainly driven by the support agreement costs of $6.75 million, partially counterbalanced by the overall stronger dry bulk market conditions during the six months ended June 30, 2024), and the $0.13 million decrease in the six months ended June 30, 2024 of working capital outflows compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, partially set-off by the $0.55 million increase in cash inflows in the periods related to dry dockings.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2024, was nil. Net cash used in investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2023 amounted to $4.10 million and represented payments of (i) $4.0 million being the cash consideration of the purchase price regarding the acquisition of the M/V Melia in February 2023, and (ii) $0.10 million relating to vessel improvement costs.
Net Cash (Used in)/Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2024, was $0.74 million and related to dividends paid to Series C and Series D preferred holders during the period.
Net cash provided by financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $12.69 million and comprised from (i) net proceeds of $13.66 million from the issuance of units (comprising of shares of common stock or pre-funded warrants, and Class B warrants) as well as private placement warrants and the exercise of prefunded warrants in the registered direct offering and the private placement that were completed in February 2023, (ii) $0.03 million proceeds from the issuance of the newly designated Series E preferred stock of the Company, less $1.0 million of dividends paid to Series C and Series D preferred holders during the same period.