Edgar Filing: TOP SHIPS INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

[ ]	REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

	OR

[X]	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

	OR

[ ]	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________________ to _________________

	OR

[ ]	SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report _________________

Commission file number 001-37889

TOP SHIPS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(Translation of Registrant's name into English)

Republic of the Marshall Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

1 Vasilisis Sofias and Megalou Alexandrou Str, 15124 Maroussi, Greece

(Address of principal executive offices)

Alexandros Tsirikos, (Tel) +30 210 812 8180, atsirikos@topships.org, (Fax) +30 210 614 1273,

1 Vasilisis Sofias and Megalou Alexandrou Str, 15124 Maroussi, Greece

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share		Nasdaq Capital Market
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights		Nasdaq Capital Market

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

NONE

(Title of class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

NONE

(Title of class)

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

As of December 31, 2018, 23,017,467 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Sec.232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

† The term "new or revised financial accounting standard" refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

X	U.S. GAAP
	International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board
	Other

If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

	________ Item 17		________ Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

Yes

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
PART I		3
ITEM 1	IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS	3
ITEM 2.	OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE	3
ITEM 3.	KEY INFORMATION	3
ITEM 4.	INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY	34
ITEM 4A.	UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS	57
ITEM 5.	OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS	57
ITEM 6.	DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES	83
ITEM 7.	MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	87
ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION.	89
ITEM 9.	THE OFFER AND LISTING.	90
ITEM 10.	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	90
ITEM 11.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	109
ITEM 12.	DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES	110
PART II		110
ITEM 13.	DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES	110
ITEM 14.	MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS	110
ITEM 15.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	111
ITEM 16A.	AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT	112
ITEM 16B.	CODE OF ETHICS	113
ITEM 16C.	PRINCIPAL AUDITOR FEES AND SERVICES	113
ITEM 16D.	EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES	113
ITEM 16E.	PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS	113
ITEM 16F.	CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT	113
ITEM 16G.	CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	113
ITEM 16H.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE	114
PART III		114
ITEM 17.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	114
ITEM 18.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	114
ITEM 19.	EXHIBITS	114

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this report may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the PSLRA, provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

TOP Ships Inc. desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This annual report and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. When used in this annual report, the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this annual report are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these assumptions and matters discussed elsewhere herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the following:

our ability to maintain or develop new and existing customer relationships with major refined product importers and exporters, major crude oil companies and major commodity traders, including our ability to enter into long-term charters for our vessels;

our future operating and financial results;

oil and chemical tanker industry trends, including charter rates and vessel values and factors affecting vessel supply and demand;

our ability to take delivery of, integrate into our fleet, and employ any newbuildings we may order in the future and the ability of shipyards to deliver vessels on a timely basis;

the aging of our vessels and resultant increases in operation and dry-docking costs;

the ability of our vessels to pass classification inspections and vetting inspections by oil majors and big chemical corporations;

significant changes in vessel performance, including increased vessel breakdowns;

the creditworthiness of our charterers and the ability of our contract counterparties to fulfill their obligations to us;

our ability to repay outstanding indebtedness, to obtain additional financing and to obtain replacement charters for our vessels, in each case, at commercially acceptable rates or at all;

changes to governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities and the expected costs thereof;

potential liability from litigation and our vessel operations, including discharge of pollutants;

changes in general economic and business conditions;

general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events or acts by terrorists;

changes in production of or demand for oil and petroleum products and chemicals, either globally or in particular regions;

the strength of world economies and currencies, including fluctuations in charterhire rates and vessel values; and

and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

Any forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this annual report, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all or any of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

PART I

ITEM 1 IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not Applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not Applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this annual report, the terms "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to TOP Ships Inc. and all of its subsidiaries, and "TOP Ships Inc." refers only to TOP Ships Inc. and not to its subsidiaries. We use the term deadweight ton, or dwt, in describing the size of vessels. Dwt, expressed in metric tons each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, refers to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can carry. Throughout this annual report, the conversion from Euros, or €, to U.S. dollars, or $, is based on the U.S. dollar/Euro exchange rate of 1.143 as of December 31, 2018, unless otherwise specified.

A. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated financial information and other operating data as of and for the periods indicated. Our selected historical consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in "Item 18. Financial Statements" herein. The selected historical consolidated financial information as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP.

The information provided below should be read in conjunction with "Item 4. Information on the Company" and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included herein.

Following the one-for-ten reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on February 22, 2016, a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on May 11, 2017, a one-for-fifteen reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on June 23, 2017, a one-for-thirty reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on August 3, 2017, a one-for-two reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on October 6, 2017 and a one-for-ten reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares effective on March 26, 2018, all share and per share amounts disclosed throughout this annual report, in the table below and in our consolidated financial statements have been retroactively updated to reflect this change in capital structure, unless otherwise indicated. Please see "Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company".

U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per share data
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME	2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Time charter revenues		3,602			13,075			28,433			39,363			39,442
Time charter revenues from related parties		-			-			-			-			1,606
Total time charter revenue		3,602			13,075			28,433			39,363			41,048

Voyage expenses		113			370			736			999			1,020
Bareboat charter hire expense		-			5,274			6,299			6,282			6,282
Amortization of prepaid bareboat charter hire		-			1,431			1,577			1,657			1,657
Vessel operating expenses		1,143			4,789			9,913			13,444			14,826
Management fees-related parties		703			1,621			1,824			4,730			7,765
General and administrative expenses		2,335			2,983			2,906			5,805			6,997
Other operating (income)/loss		(861	)		274			(3,137	)		(914	)		-
Vessel depreciation		757			668			3,467			5,744			6,390
Impairment on vessels		-			3,081			-			-			-

Operating (loss)/income		(588	)		(7,416	)		4,848			1,616			(3,889	)

Interest and finance costs		(450	)		(719	)		(3,093	)		(15,793	)		(9,662	)
(Loss)/gain on derivative financial instruments		3,866			(392	)		(698	)		(301	)		1,821
Interest income		74			-			-			13			130
Other (expense)/income, net		(6	)		20			(5	)		1,120			180

Net (loss)/income and comprehensive (loss)/income		2,896			(8,507	)		1,052			(13,345	)		(11,420	)
Deemed dividend for beneficial conversion feature of Series B convertible preferred stock		-			-			(1, 403	)		-			-
Equity (losses)/gains on investments		-			-			-			(27	)		291
Net (loss)/income attributable to common shareholders		2,896			(8,507	)		(351	)		(13,372	)		(11,129	)
Attributable to:
Common stock holders		2,896			(8,507	)		(351	)		(13,404	)		(11,134	)
Non-controlling interests		-			-			-			32			5

Earnings/(Loss) per share, basic	$	413,714		$	(773,364	)	$	(15,955	)	$	(12.57	)	$	(0.61	)
Earnings/(Loss) per share, diluted	$	362,000		$	(773,364	)	$	(15,955	)	$	(12.57	)	$	(0.61	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic		7			11			22			1,063,381			18,181,456
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted		8			11			22			1,063,381			18,181,456

U.S. dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Current assets		1,227		5,269		4,541		29,055		5,288
Total assets		75,575		74,006		143,317		220,448		258,488
Current liabilities, including current portion of long-term debt		9,334		17,577		20,033		25,581		36,819
Non-current liabilities		23,712		22,276		76,022		87,593		117,388
Total debt		19,419		24,226		84,539		103,949		140,655
Stockholders' equity		42,529		34,153		45,521		107,274		104,281
Preferred stock		-		-		-		1		1
Common stock		-		-		-		89		230

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

	2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
FLEET DATA
Total number of vessels at end of period (including leased vessels)		1.0			3.0			6.0			7.0			8.0
Average number of vessels⁽¹⁾		0.5			2.2			5.0			6.8			7.3
Total calendar days for fleet⁽²⁾		195			810			1,812			2,496			2,670
Total available days for fleet⁽³⁾		195			805			1,812			2,495			2,668
Total operating days for fleet⁽⁴⁾		195			796			1,799			2,491			2,663
Total time charter days for fleet		195			796			1,799			2,491			2,663
Fleet utilization⁽⁵⁾		100.00	%		98.91	%		99.28	%		99.81	%		99.81	%

	2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
AVERAGE DAILY RESULTS
Time charter equivalent⁽⁶⁾		$	17,892		$	15,961		$	15,396		$	15,403		$	15,031
Vessel operating expenses⁽⁷⁾		$	5,862		$	5,914		$	5,470		$	5,386		$	5,552
General and administrative expenses⁽⁸⁾		$	11,974		$	3,684		$	1,604		$	2,323		$	2,620

U.S. dollars in thousands	2014				2015				2016				2017				2018
Adjusted EBITDA⁽⁹⁾		$	163			$	3,058			$	16,186			$	16,405			$	10,910

(1)	Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted our fleet (including chartered in vessels) for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.

(2)	Calendar days are the total days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of our fleet over the relevant period and affect both the amount of revenues and expenses that we record during that period.

(3)

Available days are the number of calendar days less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to scheduled repairs or scheduled guarantee inspections in the case of newbuildings, vessel upgrades or special or intermediate surveys and the aggregate amount of time that we spend positioning our vessels. Companies in the shipping industry generally use available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels should be capable of generating revenues.

(4)

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 unforeseen technical circumstances. The shipping industry uses operating days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our vessels actually generate revenue.

(5)

Fleet utilization is calculated by dividing the number of operating days during a period by the number of available days during that 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 scheduled guarantee inspections in the case of newbuildings, vessel upgrades, special or intermediate surveys and vessel positioning.

(6)

Time charter equivalent rate, or TCE rate, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. Our method of calculating TCE rate is determined by dividing TCE revenues by operating days for the relevant time period. TCE revenues are revenues minus voyage expenses. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, as well as commissions. TCE revenues and TCE rate, which are non-U.S. GAAP measures, provide additional supplemental information in conjunction with shipping revenues, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. We use TCE rates and TCE revenues to compare period-to-period changes in our performance and it assists investors and our management in evaluating our financial performance. The following table below reflects the reconciliation of TCE revenues to revenues as reflected in the consolidated statements of operations and our calculation of TCE rates for the periods presented.

U.S. dollars in thousands, except average daily time charter equivalent and total operating days	2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
On a consolidated basis
Revenues*	$	3,602		$	13,075		$	28,433		$	39,363		$	41,048
Less:
Voyage expenses		(113	))		(370	)		(736	)		(999	)		(1,020	)
Time charter equivalent revenues	$	3,489		$	12,705		$	27,697		$	38,364		$	40,028
Total operating days		195			796			1,799			2,491			2,663

Average Daily Time Charter Equivalent (TCE)	$	17,892		$	15,961		$	15,396		$	15,403		$	15,031

*Represents the aggregate of Time charter revenues from third parties and Time charter revenues from Related Parties

(7)	Daily vessel operating expenses, which include crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.

(8)	Daily general and administrative expenses are calculated by dividing general and administrative expenses by fleet calendar days for the relevant time period.

(9)

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), is not a measure prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, vessel bareboat charter hire expenses (including amortization of prepaid hire), vessel impairments, gains on sale of vessels, gains on disposal of subsidiaries and gains/losses on derivative financial instruments. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure that is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and external users of financial statements, such as investors, to assess our financial and operating performance. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure assists our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our performance from period to period. This is achieved by excluding the potentially disparate effects between periods of interest, gain/loss on financial instruments, depreciation and amortization, vessel bareboat charter hire expenses (including amortization of prepaid hire), vessel impairments and which items are affected by various and possibly changing financing methods, capital structure and historical cost basis and which items may significantly affect results of operations between periods. This non-U.S. GAAP measure should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as reported by other companies in the shipping industry or other industries. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or cash flow from operations, as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

U.S. dollars in thousands	2014			2015			2016		2017			2018
Net income/(loss) and comprehensive income/(loss)		2,896			(8,507	)		1,052		(13,372	)		(11,129	)

Add: Bareboat charter hire expenses		-			5,274			6,299		6,282			6,282
Add: Amortization of prepaid bareboat charter hire		-			1,431			1,577		1,657			1,657
Add: Vessel depreciation		757			668			3,467		5,744			6,389
Add: Impairment on vessel		-			3,081			-		-			-
Add: Interest and finance costs		450			719			3,093		15,793			9,662
Add: Loss/(gain) on derivative financial instruments		(3,866	)		392			698		301			(1,821	)
Less: Interest income		(74	)		-			-		-			(130	)

Adjusted EBITDA		163			3,058			16,186		16,405			10,910

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not Applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not Applicable.

D. Risk Factors

The following risks relate principally to the industry in which we operate and our business in general. Any of these risk factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results and the trading price of our common shares.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY

The international tanker industry has historically been both cyclical and volatile and this may lead to reductions and volatility in our charter rates, our vessel values, our revenues, earnings and cash flow results.

The international tanker industry in which we operate is cyclical, with attendant volatility in charter hire rates, vessel values and industry profitability. For tanker vessels, the degree of charter rate volatility has varied widely. Please see "—The international oil tanker industry has experienced volatile charter rates and vessel values and there can be no assurance that these charter rates and vessel values will not decrease in the near future." Currently, all of our vessels are employed on time charters. However, changes in spot rates and time charter rates can affect the revenues we will receive from operations in the event our charterers default or seek to renegotiate the charter hire, and can affect the value of our vessels, even if they are employed under long-term time charters. Our ability to re-charter our vessels on the expiration or termination of their time or bareboat charters and the charter rates payable under any renewal or replacement charters will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the tanker markets and several other factors outside of our control. If we enter into a charter when charter rates are low, our revenues and earnings will be adversely affected. A decline in charter hire rates will also likely cause the value of our vessels to decline.

Fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values result from changes in the supply and demand for vessels and changes in the supply and demand for oil, chemicals and other liquids our vessels carry. Factors affecting the supply and demand for our vessels are outside of our control and are unpredictable. The nature, timing, direction and degree of changes in the tanker industry conditions are also unpredictable.

Factors that influence demand for tanker vessel capacity include:

supply and demand for petroleum products and chemicals carried;

changes in oil production and refining capacity resulting in shifts in trade flows for oil products;

the distance petroleum products and chemicals are to be moved by sea;

global and regional economic and political conditions, including developments in international trade, national oil reserves policies, fluctuations in industrial and agricultural production, armed conflicts and work stoppages;

increases in the production of oil in areas linked by pipelines to consuming areas, the extension of existing, or the development of new pipeline systems in markets we may serve, or the conversion of existing non-oil pipelines to oil pipelines in those markets;

environmental and other legal and regulatory developments;

currency exchange rates;

weather, natural disasters and other acts of God;

competition from alternative sources of energy, other shipping companies and other modes of transportation; and

international sanctions, embargoes, import and export restrictions, nationalizations, piracy and wars.

The factors that influence the supply of tanker capacity include:

the number of newbuilding deliveries;

current and expected newbuilding orders for vessels;

the scrapping rate of older vessels;

vessel freight rates, which are affected by factors that may affect the rate of newbuilding, swapping and laying up of vessels;

the price of steel and vessel equipment;

technological advances in the design and capacity of vessels;

potential conversion of vessels for alternative use;

changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of vessels;

port or canal congestion;

the number of vessels that are out of service at a given time; and

changes in global petroleum and chemical production.

The factors affecting the supply and demand for tankers have been volatile and are outside of our control, and the nature, timing and degree of changes in industry conditions are unpredictable. Market conditions were volatile in 2018 and continued volatility may reduce demand for transportation of oil, petroleum products and chemicals over longer distances and increase the supply of tankers, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends and existing contractual obligations.

The international oil tanker industry has experienced volatile charter rates and vessel values and there can be no assurance that these charter rates and vessel values will not decrease in the near future.

The Baltic Dirty Tanker Index, or the BDTI, a U.S. dollar daily average of charter rates issued by the Baltic Exchange that takes into account input from brokers around the world regarding crude oil fixtures for various routes and oil tanker vessel sizes, has been volatile. For example, in 2018, the BDTI reached a high of 1,266 and a low of 628. The Baltic Clean Tanker Index, or BCTI, a comparable index to the BDTI, has similarly been volatile. In 2018, the BCTI reached a high of 919 and a low of 476. Although the BDTI and BCTI were 700 and 650, respectively, as of March 21, 2019, there can be no assurance that the crude oil and petroleum products charter market will increase, and the market could again decline. This volatility in charter rates depends, among other factors, on (i) the demand for crude oil and petroleum products, (ii) the inventories of crude oil and petroleum products in the United States and in other industrialized nations, (iii) oil refining volumes, (iv) oil prices, and (v) any restrictions on crude oil production imposed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and non-OPEC oil producing countries.

If the charter rates in the oil tanker market decline from their current levels, our future earnings may be adversely affected, we may have to record impairment adjustments to the carrying values of our fleet and we may not be able to comply with the financial covenants in our loan agreements.

Volatile economic conditions throughout the world could have an adverse impact on our operations and financial results.

Among other factors, we face risks attendant to changes in economic environments, changes in interest rates, and instability in the banking and securities markets around the world.

The world economy continues to face a number of challenges. Concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain European countries and their ability to meet future financial obligations and the overall stability of the euro. A renewed period of adverse development in the outlook for the financial stability of European countries, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could reduce the overall demand for oil and chemicals, and thus for shipping and our services, and thereby could affect our financial position, results of operations and cash available for distribution. In addition, turmoil and hostilities in the Middle East and other geographic areas and countries may negatively impact the world economy.

A general deterioration in the global economy may also cause a decrease in worldwide demand for certain goods and, thus, shipping. In the past, economic and governmental factors, together with concurrent declines in charter rates and vessel values, have had a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, causing the price of our common shares to decline.

Further, the economic slowdown in China has and may continue to exacerbate the effect on us of any slowdown in the rest of the world. Specifically, China currently has one of the world's fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, which had a significant impact on shipping demand. The growth rate of China's GDP for the year ended December 31, 2018 was estimated to be around 6.5%. China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region may continue to experience slow or even negative economic growth in the future. Our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, would likely be impeded by a continuing or worsening economic downturn in any of these countries.

European countries have likewise experienced relatively slow growth. Over the past several years, the credit markets in Europe have experienced significant contraction, deleveraging and reduced liquidity, and European authorities continue to implement a broad variety of governmental action and/or new regulation of the financial markets. Worldwide economic conditions have in the past impacted, and could in the future impact, lenders' willingness to provide credit to us and our customers. In addition, a portion of the credit under our credit facilities is provided by European banking institutions. If economic conditions in Europe preclude or limit financing from these banking institutions, we may not be able to obtain financing from other institutions on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, even if conditions outside Europe remain favorable for lending.

The current state of the global financial markets and current economic conditions may adversely impact our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and may otherwise negatively impact our business.

Global financial markets and economic conditions have been volatile. This volatility has negatively affected the general willingness of banks and other financial institutions to extend credit, particularly to the shipping industry, due to the historically volatile values of vessels. The shipping industry, which is highly dependent on the availability of credit to finance and expand operations, has been negatively affected by this decline.

As a result of concerns about the stability of financial markets generally and the solvency of counterparties specifically, the cost of obtaining money from the credit markets has increased as many lenders have increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending standards, refused to refinance existing debt on terms similar to current debt and reduced, and in some cases ceased, to provide funding to borrowers. Due to these factors, we cannot be certain that financing will be available if needed and to the extent required, on acceptable terms. If financing is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our obligations as they come due or we may be unable to enhance our existing business, complete additional vessel acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

Uncertainty regarding the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) may adversely impact our indebtedness under our credit and loan facilities, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. Proposed alternative reference interest rates so far are based on overnight tenors only, while the most frequently used LIBOR rates are for one, three and six month tenors. Most of our credit and loan facilities are linked to LIBOR. When LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to amend our credit and loan facilities based on a new standard that is established, if any. The basis of calculation of such standard is not yet agreed upon amongst market participants and as a result the cost of our borrowings may increase. In addition, any resulting differences in interest rate standards among our assets and our financing arrangements may result in interest rate mismatches between our assets and the borrowings used to fund such assets. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative reference interest rate will not result in financial market disruptions or significant increases in benchmark rates, or borrowing costs to borrowers, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations that can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.

Our operations are subject to numerous laws and regulations in the form of international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and national and international regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which our vessels will operate or are registered, which can significantly affect the operation of our vessels. These regulations include, but are not limited to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as MARPOL, including the designation of Emission Control Areas, or ECAs, thereunder, the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, generally referred to as CLC, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, or Bunker Convention, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, or SOLAS, the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, or ISM Code, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, or the BWM Convention, the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, the U.S. Clean Water Act, the U.S. Clean Air Act, the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or the MTSA, and European Union regulations. Compliance with such laws, regulations and standards, where applicable, may require installation of costly equipment or operational changes and may affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. We may also incur additional costs in order to comply with other existing and future regulatory obligations, including, but not limited to, costs relating to air emissions, the management of ballast waters, maintenance and inspection, development and implementation of emergency procedures and insurance coverage or other financial assurance of our ability to address pollution incidents. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. A failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of our operations.

Environmental laws often impose strict liability for remediation of spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances, which could subject us to liability without regard to whether we were negligent or at fault. Under OPA, for example, owners, operators and bareboat charterers are jointly and severally strictly liable for the discharge of oil within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone around the United States. Events such as the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the subsequent release of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, or other events, may result in further regulation of the shipping industry, and modifications to statutory liability schemes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. An oil spill could result in significant liability, including fines, penalties and criminal liability and remediation costs for natural resource damages under other federal, state and local laws, as well as third-party damages. We are required to satisfy insurance and financial responsibility requirements for potential oil (including marine fuel) spills and other pollution incidents. Although insurance covers certain environmental risks, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be sufficient to cover all such risks or that any claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends, if any, in the future.

We are subject to international safety regulations and requirements imposed by classification societies and the failure to comply with these regulations may subject us to increased liability, may adversely affect our insurance coverage and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.

The operation of our vessels is affected by the requirements set forth in the United Nations' International Maritime Organization's International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention, or ISM Code. The ISM Code requires ship owners, ship managers and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive "Safety Management System" that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. We expect that any vessels that we acquire in the future will be ISM Code-certified when delivered to us. The failure of a shipowner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject it to increased liability, may invalidate existing insurance or decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports, including United States and European Union ports.

In addition, the hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea. If a vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable, which will negatively impact our revenues and results from operations.

Climate change and greenhouse gas restrictions may adversely impact our operations and markets.

Due to concern over the risk of climate change, a number of countries and the IMO have adopted regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These regulatory measures may include, among others, adoption of cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates for renewable energy. In addition, although the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping currently are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or the Paris Agreement, a new treaty may be adopted in the future that includes restrictions on shipping emissions. Compliance with changes in laws, regulations and obligations relating to climate change could increase our costs related to operating and maintaining our vessels and require us to install new emission controls, acquire allowances or pay taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions, or administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. Revenue generation and strategic growth opportunities may also be adversely affected.

Adverse effects upon the oil and gas industry relating to climate change, including growing public concern about the environmental impact of climate change, may also adversely affect demand for our services. For example, increased regulation of greenhouse gases or other concerns relating to climate change may reduce the demand for oil and gas in the future or create greater incentives for use of alternative energy sources. Any long-term material adverse effect on the oil and gas industry could have a significant adverse financial and operational impact on our business that we cannot predict with certainty at this time.

Regulations relating to ballast water discharge coming into effect during September 2019 may adversely affect our revenues and profitability.

The IMO has imposed updated guidelines for ballast water management systems specifying the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged from a vessel's ballast water. Depending on the date of the International Oil Pollution Prevention (“IOPP”) renewal survey, existing vessels constructed before September 8, 2017 must comply with the updated D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most vessels, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ships constructed on or after September 8, 2017 are to comply with the D-2 standards. Currently all our vessels comply with the updated guideline.

Furthermore, United States regulations are currently changing. Although the 2013 Vessel General Permit ("VGP") program and U.S. National Invasive Species Act ("NISA") are currently in effect to regulate ballast discharge, exchange and installation, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act ("VIDA"), which was signed into law on December 4, 2018, requires that the U.S. Coast Guard develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations regarding ballast water within two years. The new regulations could require the installation of new equipment, which may cause us to incur substantial costs.

Our vessels may suffer damage due to the inherent operational risks of the tanker industry and we may experience unexpected dry-docking costs, which may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. Our vessels and their cargoes are at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as marine disasters, bad weather and other acts of God, business interruptions caused by mechanical failures, grounding, fire, explosions and collisions, human error, war, terrorism, piracy and other circumstances or events. These hazards may result in death or injury to persons, loss of revenues or property, the payment of ransoms, environmental damage, higher insurance rates, damage to our customer relationships or delay or re-routing, which may also subject us to litigation. In addition, the operation of tankers has unique operational risks associated with the transportation of oil or chemicals. An oil or chemical spill may cause significant environmental damage, and the costs associated with a catastrophic spill could exceed the insurance coverage available to us. Compared to other types of vessels, tankers are exposed to a higher risk of damage and loss by fire, whether ignited by a terrorist attack, collision, or other cause, due to the high flammability and high volume of the oil and chemicals transported in such tankers.

If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a dry-docking facility. The costs of dry-dock repairs are unpredictable and may be substantial. We may have to pay dry-docking costs that our insurance does not cover in full. The loss of earnings while these vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs, would decrease our earnings. In addition, space at dry-docking facilities is sometimes limited and not all dry-docking facilities are conveniently located. We may be unable to find space at a suitable dry-docking facility or our vessels may be forced to travel to a dry-docking facility that is not conveniently located to our vessels' positions. The loss of earnings while these vessels are forced to wait for space or to steam to more distant dry-docking facilities would decrease our earnings.

In the case of bareboat chartered-out vessels, dry-docking risks, expenses and loss of hire or freight revenue affect the bareboat charterer and not the shipowner, for the duration of the bareboat charter. In the case of our bareboat chartered-in vessels, dry-docking risks, expenses and loss of hire or freight revenue affect us. Currently we do not employ any of our vessels on bareboat charters.

The market value of our vessels, and those we may acquire in the future, may fluctuate significantly, which could cause us to incur losses if we decide to sell them following a decline in their market values or we may be required to write down their carrying value, which will adversely affect our earnings.

The fair market value of our vessels may increase and decrease depending on the following factors:

general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry;

prevailing level of charter rates;

competition from other shipping companies;

types, sizes and ages of vessels;

the availability of other modes of transportation;

supply and demand for vessels;

shipyard capacity;

cost of newbuildings;

price of steel;

governmental or other regulations; and

technological advances.

If we sell any vessel at a time when vessel prices have fallen, the sale price may be less than the vessel's carrying amount in our financial statements, in which case we will realize a loss. Vessel prices can fluctuate significantly, and in the case where the market value falls below the carrying amount, we will evaluate the vessel for a potential impairment adjustment. If the estimate of undiscounted cash flows, excluding interest charges, expected to be generated by the use of the vessel is less than its carrying amount, we may be required to write down the carrying amount of the vessel to its fair value in our financial statements and incur a loss and a reduction in earnings. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies—Impairment of Vessels."

An over-supply of tanker capacity may lead to reductions in charter hire rates and profitability.

The market supply of tankers is affected by a number of factors such as demand for energy resources, crude oil, petroleum products and chemicals, as well as strong overall economic growth of the world economy. If the capacity of new tankers delivered exceeds the capacity of such tankers being scrapped and lost, vessel capacity will increase, which could lead to reductions in charter rates. As of March 26, 2019, newbuilding orders have been placed for an aggregate of approximately 10.5% of the existing global tanker fleet with the bulk of deliveries expected during 2019.

An over-supply of oil tankers has already resulted in an increase in oil tanker charter hire rate volatility. If this volatility persists, we may not be able to find profitable charters for our vessels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

Our vessels may call on ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, which could adversely affect our business, reputation and the market for our common stock.

While none of our vessels called on ports located in countries subject to U.S. sanctions during 2018, and we intend to comply with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, our vessels may call on ports in these countries from time to time on charterers' instructions in the future, and there can be no assurance that we will maintain such compliance, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. The U.S. sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or strengthened over time.

Current or future counterparties of ours may be affiliated with persons or entities that are or may be in the future the subject of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, the European Union, and/or other international bodies as a result of the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014. If we determine that such sanctions require us to terminate existing or future contracts to which we or our subsidiaries are party or if we are found to be in violation of such applicable sanctions, our results of operations may be adversely affected or we may suffer reputational harm. Currently, we do not believe that any of our existing counterparties are affiliated with persons or entities that are subject to such sanctions.

Although we believe that we have been in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business, and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in us. In addition, certain institutional investors may have investment policies or restrictions that prevent them from holding securities of companies that have contracts with countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The determination by these investors not to invest in, or to divest from, our common stock may adversely affect the price at which our common stock trades. Moreover, our charterers may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation. In addition, our reputation and the market for our securities may be adversely affected if we engage in certain other activities, such as entering into charters with individuals or entities in countries subject to U.S. sanctions and embargo laws that are not controlled by the governments of those countries, or engaging in operations associated with those countries pursuant to contracts with third parties that are unrelated to those countries or entities controlled by their governments. Investor perception of the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.

Political instability, terrorist or other attacks, war or international hostilities can affect the tanker industry, which may adversely affect our business.

We conduct most of our operations outside of the United States, and our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and government conditions in the countries and regions where our vessels are employed or registered. Moreover, we operate in a sector of the economy that is likely to be adversely impacted by the effects of political conflicts, including the current political instability in the Middle East and the South China Sea region and other geographic countries and areas, geopolitical events such as the withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union, or "Brexit," terrorist or other attacks, and war (or threatened war) or international hostilities, such as those between the United States and North Korea.

Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our operating results, revenues and costs. Additionally, Brexit, or similar events in other jurisdictions, could impact global markets, including foreign exchange and securities markets; any resulting changes in currency exchange rates, tariffs, treaties and other regulatory matters could in turn adversely impact our business and operations.

Further, governments may turn to trade barriers to protect their domestic industries against foreign imports, thereby depressing shipping demand. In particular, leaders in the United States have indicated the United States may seek to implement more protective trade measures. President Trump was elected on a platform promoting trade protectionism. The results of the presidential election have thus created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States, China and other exporting countries, including with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. For example, on January 23, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global trade agreement intended to include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru and a number of Asian countries. In March 2018, President Trump announced tariffs on imported steel and aluminum into the United States that could have a negative impact on international trade generally. Most recently, in January 2019, the United States announced expanded sanctions against Venezuela, which may have an effect on its oil output and in turn affect global oil supply. Protectionist developments, or the perception they may occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions, and may significantly reduce global trade. Moreover, increasing trade protectionism may cause an increase in (a) the cost of goods exported from regions globally, (b) the length of time required to transport goods and (c) the risks associated with exporting goods. Such increases may significantly affect the quantity of goods to be shipped, shipping time schedules, voyage costs and other associated costs, which could have an adverse impact on our charterers' business, operating results and financial condition and could thereby affect their ability to make timely charter hire payments to us and to renew and increase the number of their time charters with us. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to pay any cash distributions to our stockholders.

Continuing conflicts and recent developments in North Korea, Russia and the Middle East, including Iran, Syria, Egypt and North Africa, including Libya, and the presence of the United States and other armed forces in these regions may lead to additional acts of terrorism and armed conflict around the world, which may contribute to further world economic instability and uncertainty in global financial markets. As a result of the above, insurers have increased premiums and reduced restricted coverage for losses caused by terrorist acts generally. Future terrorist attacks could result in increased volatility of the financial markets and negatively impact the U.S. and global economy. These uncertainties could also adversely affect our ability to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us or at all.

In the past, political instability has also resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways and other efforts to disrupt international shipping, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea, the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.

Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business.

Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea. Sea piracy incidents continue to occur. Acts of piracy could result in harm or danger to the crews that man our vessels. If insurers or the Joint War Committee characterize the regions in which our vessels are deployed as "war risk" zones or "war and strikes" listed areas," respectively, premiums payable for insurance coverage could increase significantly and such coverage may be more difficult to obtain if available at all. In addition, crew costs, including costs that may be incurred to the extent we employ onboard security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, least of all for bearing the cost of the applicable deductible(s) or unforeseen charges/costs, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends and may result in loss of revenues, increased costs and decreased cash flows to our customers, which could impair their ability to make payments to us under our charters.

Changes in the economic and political environment in China and policies adopted by the Chinese government to regulate its economy may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, in respects such as structure, government involvement, level of development, growth rate, capital reinvestment, allocation of resources, rate of inflation and balance of payments position. Prior to 1978, the Chinese economy was a planned economy. Since 1978, increasing emphasis has been placed on the utilization of market forces in the development of the Chinese economy. Annual and five-year plans, or State Plans, are adopted by the Chinese government in connection with the development of the economy. Although state-owned enterprises still account for a substantial portion of the Chinese industrial output, in general, the Chinese government is reducing the level of direct control that it exercises over the economy through State Plans and other measures. There is an increasing level of freedom and autonomy in areas such as allocation of resources, production, pricing and management and a gradual shift in emphasis to a "market economy" and enterprise reform. Limited price reforms were undertaken, with the result that prices for certain commodities are principally determined by market forces. Many of the reforms are unprecedented or experimental and may be subject to revision, change or abolition based upon the outcome of such experiments. If the Chinese government does not continue to pursue a policy of economic reform, the level of imports to and exports from China could be adversely affected and could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Increased inspection procedures and tighter import and export controls could increase costs and disrupt our business.

International shipping is subject to various security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin and destination. Inspection procedures can result in the seizure of, delay in the loading, off-loading or delivery of, the contents of our vessels or the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against us. It is possible that changes to inspection procedures could impose additional financial and legal obligations on us. Furthermore, changes to inspection procedures could also impose additional costs and obligations on our customers and may, in certain cases, render the shipment of certain types of cargo uneconomical or impractical. Any such changes or developments may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We rely on our information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, if these systems fail or become unavailable for any significant period of time, our business could be harmed.

The efficient operation of our business is dependent on computer hardware and software systems. Information systems are vulnerable to security breaches by computer hackers and cyber terrorists. We rely on industry-accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential and proprietary information kept on our information systems. However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent cybersecurity breaches, the access, capture or alteration of information by criminals, the exposure or exploitation of potential security vulnerabilities, the installation of malware or ransomware, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced data or data loss. In addition, the unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and could result in decreased performance and increased operating costs, causing our business and results of operations to suffer. Any significant interruption or failure of our information systems or any significant breach of security could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as our cash flows, including cash available for dividends to our stockholders.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMPANY

We may not be able to continue as a going concern.

Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern. As at December 31, 2018, we had a working capital deficit of $31.5 million and cash and cash equivalents of $0.06 million. As at December 31, 2018 we had remaining contractual commitments for the acquisition of our fleet totaling $147.6 million. Of this amount, $66.3 million is payable in the first quarter of 2019 and $81.3 million in the second quarter of 2019. Of the amount payable in 2019, an amount of $66.3 million has been settled as of the date of this annual report.

As of December 31, 2018 we have undrawn facilities amounting to $152.2 million. Please see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources." We are considering options to raise capital to avoid there being substantial doubt about our ability to fund future operations and meet our obligations as they become due for at least a year, and continue as a going concern. If we are unable to refinance or raise capital, we may cease to continue as a going concern and we would be required to restate our assets and liabilities on a liquidation basis, which could differ significantly from the going concern basis.

We are currently subject to litigation and we may be subject to similar or other litigation in the future.

We and certain of our current executive officers are defendants in purported class-action lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districts of New York, brought on behalf of our shareholders. The lawsuits allege violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In connection with these lawsuits, certain co-defendants requested that the Company indemnify and hold them harmless against all losses, including reasonable costs of defense, arising from the litigation, pursuant to the provisions of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Kalani.

While we believe these claims to be without merit and intend to continue to defend these lawsuits vigorously, we cannot predict their outcome. Furthermore, we may, from time to time, be a party to other litigation in the normal course of business. Monitoring and defending against legal actions, whether or not meritorious, is time-consuming for our management and detracts from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities. In addition, our legal fees and costs incurred in connection with such activities and any legal fees of co-defendants for which we are deemed responsible may be significant and we could, in the future, be subject to judgments or enter into settlements of claims for significant monetary damages. A decision adverse to our interests could result in the payment of substantial damages and could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, results of operations and financial position.

With respect to any litigation, our insurance may not reimburse us or may not be sufficient to reimburse us for the expenses or losses we may suffer in contesting and concluding such lawsuit. Furthermore, our insurance does not cover legal fees associated with co-defendants. Substantial litigation costs, including the substantial self-insured retention that we are required to satisfy before any insurance applied to the claim, or an adverse result in any litigation may adversely impact our business, operating results or financial condition.

Our operating, joint venture and chartered-in fleet consists of twelve MR product tankers. Any limitation in the availability or operation of these vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

As of the date of this annual report, our operating fleet consists of two chartered-in 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers vessels, the M/T Stenaweco Energy and the M/T Stenaweco Evolution, two 39,000 dwt product/chemical tankers vessels, the M/T Eco Fleet and the M/T Eco Revolution, and six 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers, the M/T Stenaweco Excellence, M/T Nord Valiant, M/T Stenaweco Elegance, M/T Eco Palm Desert, M/T Eco California and M/T Eco Marina Del Ray. Furthermore we have a 50% interest in two 50,000 dwt product/chemical tanker vessels, the M/T Eco Holmby Hills and the M/T Palm Springs. If these vessels are unable to generate revenue as a result of off hire time, early termination of the applicable time charter or otherwise, our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends on our common shares could be materially adversely affected.

We expect to be dependent on a limited number of customers for a large part of our revenues, and failure of such counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses or negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows.

Currently all of our revenues are currently derived from five charterers, Stena Weco A/S, BP Shipping Limited, Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd, Central Tanker Chartering Inc and Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S (“DS Norden A/S”). Such agreements subject us to counterparty risks. The ability of each of our counterparties to perform its obligations under a contract with us will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the maritime industry, the overall financial condition of the counterparty, charter rates received for specific types of vessels, and various expenses. The combination of a reduction of cash flow resulting from declines in world trade, a reduction in borrowing bases under reserve-based credit facilities and the lack of availability of debt or equity financing may result in a significant reduction in the ability of charterers to make charter payments to us. In addition, in depressed market conditions, charterers and customers may no longer need a vessel that is then under charter or contract or may be able to obtain a comparable vessel at lower rates. As a result, charterers and customers may seek to renegotiate the terms of their existing charter agreements or avoid their obligations under those contracts. Should one of our counterparties fail to honor its obligations under agreements with us, we could sustain significant losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The bareboat charters in connection with our sale and leaseback agreements contain restrictive covenants that may limit our liquidity and corporate activities, and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The bareboat charters in connection with the sale and leaseback agreements for the M/T Stenaweco Energy, M/T Stenaweco Evolution, M/T Nord Valiant, M/T Eco California and M/T Eco Marina Del Ray contain, and any future sale and leaseback agreements we may enter into are expected to contain, customary covenants and event of default clauses, including cross-default provisions and restrictive covenants and performance requirements that may affect our operational and financial flexibility. Such restrictions could affect, and in many respects limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, sell assets, or engage in mergers or acquisitions. These restrictions could also limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet extraordinary capital needs or otherwise restrict corporate activities. There can be no assurance that such restrictions will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs.

Our bareboat charters in connection with the sale and leaseback agreements require us to maintain specified financial ratios, satisfy financial covenants and contain cross-default clauses, including the following:

maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not more than 75%; and

maintain minimum free liquidity of $0.75 million per owned vessel and $0.5 million per bareboated chartered-in vessel.

As of December 31, 2018, we are in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio and the minimum free liquidity covenants in our sale and leaseback agreements.

As a result of the restrictions in our bareboat charters in connection with our sale and leaseback agreements, or similar restrictions in our future sale and leaseback agreements, we may need to seek permission from the owners of our leased vessels in order to engage in certain corporate actions. Their interests may be different from ours and we may not be able to obtain their permission when needed. This may prevent us from taking actions that we believe are in our best interest, which may adversely impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

A failure by us to meet our payment and other obligations, including our financial covenant requirements, could lead to defaults under our bareboat charters in connection with our sale and leaseback agreement or any future sale and leaseback agreements. If we are not in compliance with our covenants and we are not able to obtain covenant waivers or modifications, the current or future owners of our leased vessels, as appropriate, could retake possession of our vessels or require us to pay down our indebtedness to a level where we are in compliance with our covenants or sell vessels in our fleet. We could lose our vessels if we default on our bareboat charters in connection with the sale and leaseback agreements, which would negatively affect our revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

Newbuilding projects are subject to risks that could cause delays.

As of the date of this annual report, we own 100% interests in two corporations that are party to shipbuilding contracts for two newbuilding vessels scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019. Newbuilding construction projects are subject to risks of delay inherent in any large construction project caused by numerous factors, including shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor, unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment or shipyard construction, failure of equipment to meet quality and/or performance standards, financial or operating difficulties experienced by equipment vendors or the shipyard, unanticipated actual or purported change orders, inability to obtain required permits or approvals, design or engineering changes and work stoppages and other labor disputes, adverse weather conditions, bankruptcy or other financial crisis of the shipyard, a backlog of orders at the shipyard, or any other events of force majeure. A shipyard's failure to complete the project on time may result in the delay of revenue from the vessel. Any such failure or delay could have a material adverse effect on our operating results as we will continue to incur other costs to operate our business.

Furthermore, we may need to incur additional borrowings or raise capital through the sale of additional equity or debt securities to complete our newbuilding program or acquire any additional vessels in the future. Our ability to obtain bank financing or to access the capital markets for future offerings may be limited by our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering as well as by adverse market conditions resulting from, among other things, general economic conditions and contingencies and uncertainties that are beyond our control. If we are not able to borrow additional funds, raise other capital or utilize available cash on hand, we may not be able to complete our newbuilding program or acquire other newbuilding or secondhand vessels, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our strategic relationships subject us to risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We own 50% of City of Athens Inc., a Marshal Islands corporation that owns the M/T Eco Holmby Hills and another 50% of ECO Nine Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation that owns the M/T Eco Palm Springs, two 50,000 dwt product tankers. Fly Free Company and Maxima International Co. own the other 50% of City of Athens Inc. and ECO Nine Inc., respectively. Fly Free Company and Maxima International Co. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Gunvor S.A., or Gunvor, a non-affiliated company with which we have entered into a joint venture agreement on July 7, 2017.

These strategic relationships are subject to various risks that could adversely affect the value of our investments and our results of operations and financial condition. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

our interests could diverge from our partners' interests or we may not agree with our strategic partners on ongoing activities or on the amount, timing or nature of further investments in the relationship;

we do not control the operations of City of Athens Inc. and ECO Nine Inc. as we have joint control;

due to financial constraints, our strategic partners may be unable to meet their commitments to us;

due to differing long-term business goals, our partners may decide not to join us in funding capital investment by our business ventures, which may result in higher levels of cash expenditures by us;

we may experience difficulties or delays in collecting amounts due to us from our strategic partners;

the terms of our arrangements may turn out to be unfavorable; and

changes in tax, legal or regulatory requirements may necessitate changes in the agreements with our strategic partners.

Further, in spite of performing customary due diligence prior to entering into the aforementioned strategic relationships, we cannot guarantee full disclosure of prior acts or omissions of the sellers or those with whom we enter into strategic arrangements. If our strategic relationships are unsuccessful or there are unanticipated changes in, or termination of, our strategic relationships, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Our credit facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit our business and financing activities.

The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our ABN Senior Credit Facility, or the ABN Facility, Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale Bank of Germany Facility, or the NORD/LB Facility, Amsterdam Trade Bank Facility, or the AT Bank Facility, Alpha Bank of Greece Facility, or the Alpha Bank Facility, and any new or amended credit facility we enter into in the future could adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities.

For example, our ABN Facility, NORD/LB Facility, AT Bank Facility and Alpha Bank Facility require the consent of our lenders to, among other things:

incur or guarantee indebtedness outside of our ordinary course of business;

provide guarantees other than for financing of new vessels;

pay any dividends or distribute any of our capital or redeem any class of our shares;

charge, pledge or encumber our vessels;

change the flag, class, management or ownership of our vessels;

change the commercial and technical management of our vessels; and

sell or change the beneficial ownership or control of our vessels.

Furthermore some of our facilities also contain restrictions in the use of proceeds of future issuances of capital and incurrence of unsecured debt. Finally, our credit facilities require us to satisfy certain financial and other covenants. Please see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources." In general, these financial covenants require us to maintain, among other things, a minimum ratio of total net debt to the aggregate market value of our fleet, minimum free consolidated liquidity per collateralized vessel and to maintain a ratio of EBITDA (as defined in each credit facility) to net interest expense. In addition, our credit facilities require that we maintain a minimum security coverage ratio, usually defined as the ratio of the market value of the collateralized vessels or vessel and net realizable value of additional acceptable security to our outstanding loans. A breach of any of these, or other, covenants in our credit facilities would prevent us from borrowing additional money under our credit facilities and could constitute an event of default under our credit facilities, which, unless cured within the grace period set forth under the credit facility, if applicable, or waived or modified by our lenders, may provide our lenders with the right to, among other things, require us to post additional collateral, enhance our equity and liquidity, increase our interest payments, pay down our indebtedness to a level where we are in compliance with our loan covenants, sell vessels in our fleet and accelerate our indebtedness and foreclose their liens on our vessels and the other assets securing the credit facilities, which would impair our ability to continue to conduct our business.

Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our current or future credit facilities may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions, interest rate developments, changes in the funding costs of our banks and changes in vessel earnings and asset valuations. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If we are in breach of any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our current or future credit facilities, or if we trigger a cross-default contained in our current or future credit facilities, a significant portion of our obligations may become immediately due and payable. We may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, obligations under our current and future credit facilities are and are expected to be secured by our vessels, and if we are unable to repay debt under our current or future credit facilities, the lenders could seek to foreclose on those assets.

Furthermore, if the estimated asset values of the vessels in our fleet decrease, such decreases may limit the amounts we can draw down under our future credit facilities to purchase additional vessels and our ability to expand our fleet. In addition, we may be obligated to prepay part of our outstanding debt in order to remain in compliance with the relevant covenants in our current or future credit facilities. If funds under our current or future credit facilities become unavailable as a result of a breach of our covenants or otherwise, we may not be able to perform our business strategy which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends.

Servicing current and future debt will limit funds available for other purposes and impair our ability to react to changes in our business.

We must dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness. These payments limit funds otherwise available for working capital, capital expenditures and other purposes. As of December 31, 2018, we had a total indebtedness of $152.3 million, excluding deferred finance fees and debt discounts. Our current or future debt could have other significant consequences on our operations. For example, it could:

increase our vulnerability to general economic downturns and adverse competitive and industry conditions;

require us to dedicate a substantial portion, if not all, of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes;

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that have less debt or better access to capital;

limit our ability to raise additional financing on satisfactory terms or at all; and

adversely impact our ability to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants of our current or future financing arrangements, which could result in an event of default under such agreements.

Furthermore, our current or future interest expense could increase if interest rates increase. If we do not have sufficient earnings, we may be required to refinance all or part of our current or future debt, sell assets, borrow more money or sell more securities, and we cannot guarantee that the resulting proceeds therefrom, if any, will be sufficient to meet our ongoing capital and operating needs.

The adoption of a new accounting standard can pose a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, ("ASC 842") which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model ("ROU") that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt the standard for our first interim reporting period commencing of January 1, 2019 and all of our operating lease commitments relating to bareboat chartered-in vessels recognized as operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon adoption, increasing our total assets and total liabilities that we report relative to such amounts prior to adoption. The Company is in the final process of implementing a new lease accounting policy and updating its controls and procedures for maintaining and accounting for its leases under the new guidance in order to be able to quantify the effect. The Company expects the adoption of the new standard to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements. Please see "Item 18. Financial Statements—Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies." We do not expect a significant change in our leasing activity between now and adoption.

If we fail to manage our planned growth properly, we may not be able to successfully expand our market share.

We intend to continue to grow our fleet in the future. Our future growth will primarily depend on our ability to:

generate excess cash flow for investment without jeopardizing our ability to cover current and foreseeable working capital needs (including debt service);

raise equity and obtain required financing for our existing and new operations;

locate and acquire suitable vessels;

identify and consummate acquisitions or joint ventures;

integrate any acquired business successfully with our existing operations;

hire, train and retain qualified personnel and crew to manage and operate our growing business and fleet;

enhance our customer base; and

manage expansion.

Growing any business by acquisition presents numerous risks such as undisclosed liabilities and obligations, difficulty in obtaining additional qualified personnel, managing relationships with customers and suppliers and integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. We may not be successful in executing our growth plans and we may incur significant additional expenses and losses in connection therewith.

Our ability to obtain additional debt financing may be dependent on our ability to charter our vessels, the performance of our charters and the creditworthiness of our charterers.

Our inability to re-charter our vessels and the actual or perceived credit quality of our charterers, and any defaults by them, may materially affect our ability to obtain the additional capital resources that we will require to purchase additional vessels or may significantly increase our costs of obtaining such capital. Our inability to obtain financing, or receiving financing at a higher than anticipated cost, may materially affect our results of operation and our ability to implement our business strategy.

The industry for the operation of tanker vessels and the transportation of oil, petroleum products and chemicals is highly competitive and we may not be able to compete for charters with new entrants or established companies with greater resources.

We will employ our tankers and any additional vessels we may acquire in a highly competitive market that is capital intensive and highly fragmented. The operation of tanker vessels and the transportation of cargoes shipped in these vessels, as well as the shipping industry in general, is extremely competitive. Competition arises primarily from other vessel owners, including major oil companies as well as independent tanker shipping companies, some of whom have substantially greater resources than we do. Competition for the transportation of oil, petroleum products and chemicals can be intense and depends on price, location, size, age, condition and the acceptability of the vessel and its operators to the charterers. Due in part to the highly fragmented market, competitors with greater resources could enter and operate larger fleets through consolidations or acquisitions that may be able to offer better prices and fleets than us.

A limited number of financial institutions hold our cash.

A limited number of financial institutions, including institutions located in Greece, hold all of our cash. Our cash balances have been deposited from time to time with banks in Monaco, Germany, Holland, United Kingdom, Greece and Switzerland amongst others. Our cash balances are not covered by insurance in the event of default by these financial institutions. The occurrence of such a default could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and we may lose part or all of our cash that we deposit with such banks.

Uncertainty related to the Greek sovereign debt crisis may adversely affect our operating results.

Uncertainty related to the Greek sovereign debt crisis may adversely affect our operating results. Greece experienced a macroeconomic downturn in recent years, including as a result of the sovereign debt crisis and the related austerity measures implemented by the Greek government. As a result, our operations in Greece may be subjected to new regulations or regulatory action that may require us to incur new or additional compliance or other administrative costs and may require that we or Central Shipping Monaco SAM, which we refer to as our Fleet Manager or CSM, a related party affiliated with the family of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, pay to the Greek government new taxes or other fees. We and our Fleet Manager also face the risk that strikes, work stoppages, civil unrest and violence within Greece may disrupt our and our Fleet Manager's shore side operations located in Greece. The Greek government's taxation authorities have increased their scrutinization of individuals and companies to secure tax law compliance. If economic and financial market conditions remain uncertain or deteriorate further, the Greek government may impose further changes to tax and other laws to which we and our Fleet Manager may be subject or change the ways they are enforced, which may adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, who may be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of our Series D Preferred Shares has control over us.

As of March 12, 2019, Lax Trust, which is an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of certain family members of our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Mr. Evangelos Pistiolis, may be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, all of the 100,000 outstanding shares of our Series D Preferred Stock. Each Series D Preferred Share carries 1,000 votes. By its ownership of 100% of our Series D Preferred Shares, Lax Trust has control over our actions.

As of March 12, 2019, the Lax Trust may be deemed to own all of the outstanding shares of Family Trading Inc., Sovereign Holdings Inc., Epsilon Holdings Inc., Race Navigation Inc., and Tankers Family Inc., which in aggregate and on an as-if converted basis own approximately 65.0% of our outstanding common shares, including 5,187,500 common shares issuable upon the exercise of 1,250,000 of the 2014 Warrants held by Race Navigation and 41,240,000 Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of $24.7 million of outstanding debt held by Family Trading Inc. under the Amended and Restated Family Trading Credit Facility. See also under "Item 7—Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major Shareholders." Due to the number of shares that the Lax Trust may be deemed to own, it has the power to exert considerable influence over our actions and to effectively control the outcome of matters on which our shareholders are entitled to vote, including the election of our directors and other significant corporate actions. The interests of the Lax Trust or the family of Mr. Pistiolis may be different from your interests.

We may be unable to attract and retain key management personnel and other employees in the international tanker shipping industry, which may negatively impact the effectiveness of our management and our results of operations.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities and efforts of our management team. All of our executive officers are employees of Central Mare Inc., or Central Mare, a related party affiliated with the family of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, and we have entered into agreements with Central Mare for the compensation of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis; Alexandros Tsirikos, our Chief Financial Officer and Director; Vangelis G. Ikonomou our Chief Operating Officer and Konstantinos Patis, our Chief Technical Officer. The loss of any of these individuals could adversely affect our business prospects and financial condition. Difficulty in hiring and retaining personnel could adversely affect our results of operations. We do not maintain "key man" life insurance on any of our officers.

If labor interruptions are not resolved in a timely manner, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.

Central Shipping Monaco SAM, which we refer to as our Fleet Manager, is responsible for recruiting, mainly through a crewing agent, the senior officers and all other crew members for our vessels and all other vessels we may acquire. If not resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner, industrial action or other labor unrest could prevent or hinder our operations from being carried out as we expect and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.

If we expand our business, we will need to improve our operations and financial systems and staff; if we cannot improve these systems or recruit suitable employees, our performance may be adversely affected.

Our current operating and financial systems may not be adequate if we implement a plan to expand the size of our fleet, and our attempts to improve those systems may be ineffective. If we are unable to operate our financial and operations systems effectively or to recruit suitable employees as we expand our fleet, our performance may be adversely affected.

A drop in spot charter rates may provide an incentive for some charterers to default on their charters, which could affect our cash flow and financial condition.

When we enter into a time charter or bareboat charter, rates under that charter are fixed throughout the term of the charter. If the spot charter rates in the tanker shipping industry become significantly lower than the time charter equivalent rates that some of our charterers are obligated to pay us under our then existing charters, the charterers may have incentive to default under that charter or attempt to renegotiate the charter. If our charterers fail to pay their obligations, we would have to attempt to re-charter our vessels at lower charter rates, and as a result we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and financial condition, which would affect our ability to meet our current or future loans or current leaseback obligations. If our current or future lenders choose to accelerate our indebtedness and foreclose their liens, or if the owners of our leased vessels choose to repossess vessels in our fleet as a result of a default under the sale and leaseback agreements, our ability to continue to conduct our business would be impaired.

An increase in operating costs could decrease earnings and available cash.

Vessel operating costs include the costs of crew, fuel (for spot chartered vessels), provisions, deck and engine stores, insurance and maintenance and repairs, which depend on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Some of these costs, primarily relating to insurance and enhanced security measures, have been increasing. If any vessels we have or will acquire suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a dry-docking facility. The costs of dry-docking repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial. Increases in any of these expenses could decrease our earnings and available cash.

The aging of our fleet may result in increased operating costs in the future, which could adversely affect our earnings.

In general, the cost of maintaining a vessel in good operating condition increases with the age of the vessel. As our fleet ages, operating and other costs will increase. In the case of bareboat charters, operating costs are borne by the bareboat charterer. Cargo insurance rates also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers. Governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which our vessels may engage. As our fleet ages, market conditions might not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.

Unless we set aside reserves or are able to borrow funds for vessel replacement, our revenue will decline at the end of a vessel's useful life, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Unless we maintain reserves or are able to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement, we will be unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their remaining useful lives, which we estimate to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard. Our cash flows and income are dependent on the revenues earned by the chartering of our vessels to customers. If we are unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their useful lives, our business, results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.

Purchasing and operating secondhand vessels may result in increased operating costs and vessels off-hire, which could adversely affect our earnings.

We may expand our fleet through the acquisition of secondhand vessels. While we rigorously inspect previously owned or secondhand vessels prior to purchase, this does not normally provide us with the same knowledge about their condition and cost of any required (or anticipated) repairs that we would have had if these vessels had been built for and operated exclusively by us. Accordingly, we may not discover defects or other problems with such vessels prior to purchase. Any such hidden defects or problems, when detected, may be expensive to repair, and if not detected, may result in accidents or other incidents for which we may become liable to third parties. Also, when purchasing previously owned vessels, we do not receive the benefit of warranties from the builders if the vessels we buy are older than one year. In general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase with the age and type of the vessel. In the case of chartered-in vessels, we run the same risks.

Governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which the vessels may engage. As our vessels age, market conditions may not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.

We may not have adequate insurance to compensate us if we lose any vessels that we acquire.

We carry insurance for all vessels we acquire against those types of risks commonly insured against by vessel owners and operators. These insurances include hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance (which includes environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage), freight demurrage and defense and war risk insurance. Reasonable insurance rates can best be obtained when the size and the age/trading profile of the fleet is attractive. As a result, rates become less competitive as a fleet downsizes.

In the future, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates for the vessels we acquire. The insurers may not pay particular claims. Our insurance policies also contain deductibles for which we will be responsible as well as limitations and exclusions that may increase our costs or lower our revenue.

We may be subject to increased premium payments, or calls, as we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations.

We may be subject to increased premium payments, or calls, in amounts based on our claim records and the claim records of our Fleet Manager as well as the claim records of other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive insurance coverage for tort liability, including pollution-related liability. In addition, our protection and indemnity associations may not have enough resources to cover claims made against them. Our payment of these calls could result in significant expense to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The smuggling of drugs or other contraband onto our vessels may lead to governmental claims against us.

Our vessels may call in ports where smugglers may attempt to hide drugs and other contraband on vessels, with or without the knowledge of crew members. To the extent our vessels are found with contraband, whether inside or attached to the hull of our vessel and whether with or without the knowledge of any of our crew, we may face governmental or other regulatory claims that could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

Maritime claimants could arrest vessels we acquire, which could interrupt our cash flow.

Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against that vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lienholder may enforce its lien by "arresting" or "attaching" a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more vessels we acquire could result in a significant loss of earnings for the related off-hired period. In addition, in jurisdictions where the "sister ship" theory of liability applies, a claimant may arrest the vessel which is subject to the claimant's maritime lien and any "associated" vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. In countries with "sister ship" liability laws, claims might be asserted against us or any of our vessels for liabilities of other vessels that we own.

Governments could requisition vessels we acquire during a period of war or emergency, resulting in loss of earnings.

A government could requisition vessels for title or hire. Requisition for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes the owner. Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes the charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency. Government requisition of any vessels we acquire could negatively impact our revenues should we not receive adequate compensation.

U.S. federal tax authorities could treat us as a "passive foreign investment company," which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders.

A foreign corporation will be treated as a "passive foreign investment company," or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of "passive income" or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation's assets produce or are held for the production of those types of "passive income." For purposes of these tests, "passive income" includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. Income derived from the performance of services does not constitute "passive income" for this purpose. U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.

In general, income derived from the bareboat charter of a vessel should be treated as "passive income" for purposes of determining whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC, and such vessel should be treated as an asset which produces or is held for the production of "passive income." On the other hand, income derived from the time charter of a vessel should not be treated as "passive income" for such purpose, but rather should be treated as services income; likewise, a time chartered vessel should generally not be treated as an asset which produces or is held for the production of "passive income."

We believe that we were not a PFIC for our 2014 through 2018 taxable years and do not expect to be treated as a PFIC in subsequent taxable years. In this regard, we intend to treat the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from our time chartering activities as services income, rather than rental income. Accordingly, we believe that our income from our time chartering activities does not constitute ''passive income,'' and the assets that we own and operate in connection with the production of that income do not constitute passive assets.

There is, however, no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our proposed method of operation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or a court of law will accept our position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in the nature and extent of our operations.

Our U.S. shareholders may face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain information reporting obligations as a result of us being treated as a PFIC. Under the PFIC rules, unless those shareholders make an election available under the Code (which election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders, as discussed below under "Taxation– U.S. Federal Income Consequences—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders"), such shareholders would be liable to pay U.S. federal income tax at the then prevailing income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of their common shares, as if the excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder's holding period of the common shares. See "Taxation —U.S. Federal Income Consequences—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders" for a more comprehensive discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders as a result of our status as a PFIC.

We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income, which would reduce our earnings.

Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not begin and end, in the United States is characterized as U.S. source shipping income and such income is subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code. Although we have qualified for this statutory exemption in previous taxable years and have taken this position for U.S. federal income tax return reporting purposes in such taxable year, there are factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us to lose the benefit of the exemption and thereby become subject to U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. source shipping income. For example, we would fail to qualify for exemption under Section 883 of the Code for a particular tax year if shareholders, each of whom owned, actually or under applicable constructive ownership rules, a 5% or greater interest in the vote and value of our common stock, owned in the aggregate 50% or more of the vote and value of such stock, and "qualified shareholders" as defined by the Treasury regulation under Section 883 of the Code did not own, directly or under applicable constructive ownership rules, sufficient shares in our closely-held block of common stock to preclude the shares in that closely-held block that are not so owned from representing 50% or more of the value of our common stock for more than half of the number of days during the taxable year. Establishing such ownership by qualified shareholders will depend upon the status of certain of our direct or indirect shareholders as residents of qualifying jurisdictions and whether those shareholders own their shares through bearer share arrangements. In addition, such shareholders will also be required to comply with ownership certification procedures attesting that they are residents of qualifying jurisdictions, and each intermediary or other person in the chain of ownership between us and such shareholders must undertake similar compliance procedures. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, we may not qualify for exemption under Section 883 of the Code for any future taxable year. We intend to take the position for U.S. federal income tax reporting purposes that we are not subject to U.S. federal income taxation for the 2018 taxable year because more than 50% of our stock was not owned by non-qualified shareholders that each held 5% or more of our stock.

We are a "foreign private issuer," which could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.

We are a "foreign private issuer," as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. As a "foreign private issuer" the rules governing the information that we disclose differ from those governing U.S. corporations pursuant to the Exchange Act. We are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8-K disclosing significant events within four days of their occurrence. In addition, our officers and directors are exempt from the reporting and "short-swing" profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules with respect to their purchase and sales of our securities. Our exemption from the rules of Section 16 of the Exchange Act regarding sales of common stock by insiders means that you will have less data in this regard than shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are exempt from the proxy rules, and proxy statements that we distribute will not be subject to review by the Commission. Accordingly there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there is for other U.S. public companies. These factors could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON SHARES

Our share price may continue to be highly volatile, which could lead to a loss of all or part of a shareholder's investment.

The market price of our common shares has fluctuated widely since our common shares began trading in July of 2004 on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. Over the last few years, the stock market has experienced price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has sometimes been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. During 2018, the price of our common shares experienced a high of $3.00 in February and a low of $0.71 in May.

The market price of our common shares is affected by a variety of factors, including:

fluctuations in interest rates;

fluctuations in the availability or the price of oil and chemicals;

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

announcements by us or our competitors;

changes in our relationships with customers or suppliers;

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our semi-annual and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry;

changes in United States or foreign tax laws;

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results from period to period;

shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts;

market conditions in the shipping industry and the general state of the securities markets;

mergers and strategic alliances in the shipping industry;

changes in government regulation;

a general or industry-specific decline in the demand for, and price of, shares of our common stock resulting from capital market conditions independent of our operating performance;

the loss of any of our key management personnel;

our failure to successfully implement our business plan; and

issuance of shares.

There is no guarantee of a continuing public market for you to resell our common shares.

Our common shares currently trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We cannot assure you that an active and liquid public market for our common stock will continue and you may not be able to sell your common shares in the future at the price that you paid for them or at all. The price of our common stock may be volatile and may fluctuate due to factors such as:

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry;

mergers and strategic alliances in the shipping industry;

market conditions in the shipping industry and the general state of the securities markets;

changes in government regulation;

shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts; and

announcements concerning us or our competitors.

Further, lack of trading volume in our stock may affect investors' ability to sell their shares. Our common shares have been experiencing low daily trading volumes in the market. As a result, investors may be unable to sell all or any of their shares in the desired time period, or may only be able to sell such shares at a significant discount to the previous closing price.

The market price of our common shares has recently declined significantly. If the average closing price of our common shares declines to less than $1.00 over 30 consecutive trading days, our common shares could be delisted from Nasdaq or trading could be suspended.

On July 27, 2016, we transferred our Nasdaq listing from the Nasdaq Global Select Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market. Our common shares continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol "TOPS". The Nasdaq Capital Market is a continuous trading market that operates in substantially the same manner as the Nasdaq Global Select Market. We then fulfilled the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market and the approval of the transfer cured our deficiency under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(1)(C).

On June 27, 2017, we received written notification from Nasdaq, indicating that because the closing bid price of our common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per share, we no longer met the minimum bid price requirement for the Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period to regain compliance was 180 days, or until December 26, 2017. We regained compliance on August 17, 2017.

On October 10, 2017, we received written notification from Nasdaq indicating that because the closing bid price of our common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per share, we no longer meet the minimum bid price requirement for the Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period to regain compliance is 180 days, or until April 9, 2018. After requesting a grace period from Nasdaq, we regained compliance on April 11, 2018.

On March 11, 2019, we received written notification from Nasdaq, indicating that because the closing bid price of our common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days was below $1.00 per share, we no longer met the minimum bid price requirement for the Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period to regain compliance is 180 days, or until September 9, 2019. From the date of receipt of the written notification from Nasdaq until the date of this annual report our stock is trading below $1.00.

A renewed or continued decline in the closing price of our common shares on Nasdaq could result in a breach of these requirements. Although we would have an opportunity to take action to cure such a breach, if we do not succeed, Nasdaq could commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of our common shares. The commencement of suspension or delisting procedures by an exchange remains, at all times, at the discretion of such exchange and would be publicly announced by the exchange. If a suspension or delisting were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted securities. In addition, our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired. Furthermore, with respect to any suspended or delisted common shares, we would expect decreases in institutional and other investor demand, analyst coverage, market making activity and information available concerning trading prices and volume, and fewer broker-dealers would be willing to execute trades with respect to such common shares. A suspension or delisting would likely decrease the attractiveness of our common shares to investors, may constitute a breach under certain of our credit agreements and constitute an event of default under certain classes of our preferred stock and cause the trading volume of our common shares to decline, which could result in a further decline in the market price of our common shares.

Finally, if the volatility in the market continues or worsens, it could have a further adverse effect on the market price of our common shares, regardless of our operating performance.

We issued 14,093,853 common shares during 2018 through various transactions. Shareholders may experience significant dilution as a result of our offerings.

We have already sold large quantities of our common stock pursuant to previous public and private offerings of our equity and equity-linked securities. We currently have an effective registration statement on Form F-3 (333-215577) for the sale of up $200,000,000, of which approximately $97.7 million has been sold. We also have outstanding 1,976,389 2014 Warrants, which are convertible into our common shares, both as defined below.

Purchasers of the shares of our common stock we sell, as well as our existing shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested. In addition, we may issue additional shares of common stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in connection with, among other things, any exercise of our outstanding warrants issued in June 2014, or our 2014 Warrants, future vessel acquisitions, repayment of outstanding indebtedness (i.e. the Amended and Restated Family Trading Facility), or our equity incentive plan, without shareholder approval, in a number of circumstances. Our existing shareholders may experience significant dilution if we issue shares in the future at prices below the price at which previous shareholders invested.

Our issuance of additional shares of common stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects:

our existing shareholders' proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease;

the amount of cash available for dividends payable on the shares of our common stock may decrease;

the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common share may be diminished; and

the market price of the shares of our common stock may decline.

Future issuances or sales, or the potential for future issuances or sales, of our common shares may cause the trading price of our securities to decline and could impair our ability to raise capital through subsequent equity offerings.

We have issued a significant number of our common shares and we may do so in the future. Shares to be issued in relation to a future follow-on offering could cause the market price of our common shares to decline, and could have an adverse effect on our earnings per share if and when we become profitable. In addition, future sales of our common shares or other securities in the public markets, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline, and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities.

The market price of our common stock could decline due to sales, or the announcements of proposed sales, of a large number of common stock in the market, including sales of common stock by our large shareholders, or the perception that these sales could occur. These sales or the perception that these sales could occur could also depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities or make it more difficult or impossible for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize our Board of Directors to, among other things, issue additional shares of common or preferred stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into equity securities, without shareholder approval. We may issue such additional equity or convertible securities to raise additional capital. The issuance of any additional shares of common or preferred stock or convertible securities could be substantially dilutive to our shareholders. Moreover, to the extent that we issue restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, options or warrants to purchase our common stock in the future and those stock appreciation rights, options or warrants are exercised or as the restricted stock units vest, our shareholders may experience further dilution. Holders of shares of our common stock have no preemptive rights that entitle such holders to purchase their pro rata share of any offering of shares of any class or series and, therefore, such sales or offerings could result in increased dilution to our shareholders.

Future issuance of common shares may trigger anti-dilution provisions in our outstanding warrants and affect the interests of our common shareholders.

The 2014 Warrants contain anti-dilution provisions that could be triggered by the issuance of common shares in a future offering, depending on their offering price. For instance, the issuance by us of common shares for less than $0.70 per common share, which is the current fixed exercise price for the warrant shares of the 2014 Warrants, could result in an adjustment downward of the exercise price of the warrant shares of the 2014 Warrants and an increase in the number of shares each warrant is eligible to purchase above 3.56 per 2014 Warrant. These adjustments could affect the interests of our common shareholders and the trading price for our common shares. Furthermore and following the issuance our Series C Convertible Preferred Shares and the subsequent trigger of an anti-dilution provision of our 2014 Warrants, each warrant holder currently has the option to replace the fixed exercise price with a variable exercise price, namely 75% of the lowest daily VWAP of our common shares over the 21 consecutive trading days expiring on the trading day immediately prior to the date of delivery of an exercise notice (but in no event can this variable exercise price be less than $0.25) and purchase such proportionate number of shares based on the variable price in effect on the date of exercise. If using the variable exercise price of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, as of March 22, 2019, each 2014 Warrant has an exercise price of $0.61 and entitles its holder to purchase 4.09 common shares, as may be further adjusted. Moreover, future issuance of other equity or debt convertible into or issuable or exchangeable for common shares at a price per share less than the then current exercise price of the warrant shares of the 2014 Warrants would result in similar adjustments.

Additionally, we value our 2014 Warrants liability at the closing of each fiscal quarter. If the market price of our common stock at the end of the relevant quarter is higher than the previous quarter or if the exercise price of our warrant shares decreases, there is a strong possibility that we will realize a non-cash loss attributable to the change in market value. Should the market price of our common stock rise, there is a strong possibility that our 2014 Warrants liability will increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law and as a result, shareholders may have fewer rights and protections under Marshall Islands law than under a typical jurisdiction in the United States.

Our corporate affairs are governed by Our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws, as further amended, and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or BCA. The provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in the Republic of the Marshall Islands interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in certain United States jurisdictions. Shareholder rights may differ as well. While the BCA does specifically incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial case law, of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by the management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States jurisdiction.

It may not be possible for investors to serve process on or enforce U.S. judgments against us.

We and all of our subsidiaries are incorporated in jurisdictions outside the U.S. and substantially all of our assets and those of our subsidiaries are located outside the U.S. In addition, most of our directors and officers are non-residents of the U.S., and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for U.S. investors to serve process within the U.S. upon us, our subsidiaries or our directors and officers or to enforce a judgment against us for civil liabilities in U.S. courts. In addition, you should not assume that courts in the countries in which we or our subsidiaries are incorporated or where our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries are located (1) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our subsidiaries based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (2) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our subsidiaries based on those laws.

Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger, amalgamation or acquisition, which could reduce the market price of our common shares.

Several provisions of our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws, as further amended, could make it difficult for our shareholders to change the composition of our Board of Directors in any one year, preventing them from changing the composition of management. In addition, the same provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that shareholders may consider favorable.

These provisions include:

authorizing our Board of Directors to issue "blank check" preferred stock without shareholder approval;

providing for a classified Board of Directors with staggered, three-year terms;

prohibiting cumulative voting in the election of directors;

authorizing the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote for the directors;

prohibiting shareholder action by written consent unless the written consent is signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action;

limiting the persons who may call special meetings of shareholders; and

establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by shareholders at shareholder meetings.

In addition, we have entered into a stockholders rights agreement, or the Stockholders Rights Agreement, that makes it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us without the support of our Board of Directors. See "Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Stockholders Rights Agreement." These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of public shareholders to benefit from a change in control and, as a result, may reduce the market price of our common stock and your ability to realize any potential change of control premium.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FLEET MANAGER AND ITS AFFILIATES

We are dependent on our Fleet Manager to perform the day-to-day management of our fleet.

Our executive management team, provided by Central Mare, consists of Evangelos J. Pistiolis; Alexandros Tsirikos, our Chief Financial Officer and Director; Vangelis G. Ikonomou our Chief Operating Officer and Konstantinos Patis, our Chief Technical Officer. We subcontract the day-to-day vessel management of our fleet, including crewing, maintenance and repair to our Fleet Manager. Furthermore, upon delivery of any vessels we may acquire, we expect to subcontract their day-to-day management to our Fleet Manager. Our Fleet Manager is a related party affiliated with the family of Mr. Pistiolis. We are dependent on our Fleet Manager for the technical and commercial operation of our fleet and the loss of our Fleet Manager's services or its failure to perform obligations to us could materially and adversely affect the results of our operations. If our Fleet Manager suffers material damage to its reputation or relationships it may harm our ability to:

continue to operate our vessels and service our customers;

renew existing charters upon their expiration;

obtain new charters;

obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms;

obtain insurance on commercially acceptable terms;

maintain satisfactory relationships with our customers and suppliers; and

successfully execute our growth strategy.

Our Fleet Manager is a privately held company and there may be limited or no publicly available information about it.

Our Fleet Manager is a privately held company. The ability of our Fleet Manager to provide services for our benefit will depend in part on its own financial strength. Circumstances beyond our control could impair our Fleet Manager's financial strength, and there may be limited publicly available information about its financial condition. As a result, an investor in our common shares might have little advance warning of problems affecting our Fleet Manager, even though these problems could have a material adverse effect on us.

Our Fleet Manager may have conflicts of interest between us and its other clients.

We subcontract the day-to-day vessel management of our fleet, including crewing, maintenance and repair to our Fleet Manager. Our Fleet Manager may provide similar services for vessels owned by other shipping companies, and it also may provide similar services to companies with which our Fleet Manager is affiliated. These responsibilities and relationships could create conflicts of interest between our Fleet Manager's performance of its obligations to us, on the one hand, and our Fleet Manager's performance of its obligations to its other clients, on the other hand. These conflicts may arise in connection with the crewing, supply provisioning and operations of the vessels in our fleet versus vessels owned by other clients of our Fleet Manager. In particular, our Fleet Manager may give preferential treatment to vessels owned by other clients whose arrangements provide for greater economic benefit to our Fleet Manager. These conflicts of interest may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A. History and Development of the Company

Our predecessor, Ocean Holdings Inc., was formed as a corporation in January 2000 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and renamed Top Tankers Inc. in May 2004. In December 2007, Top Tankers Inc. was renamed TOP Ships Inc. Our common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "TOPS." The current address of our principal executive office is 1 Vasilisis Sofias and Megalou Alexandrou Str, 15124 Maroussi, Greece. The telephone number of our registered office is +30 210 812 8000. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC's Internet site is http://www.sec.gov. The address of the Company's Internet site is https://www.topships.org.

On September 14, 2016, we declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding common share and adopted a shareholder rights plan, as set forth in a stockholders rights agreement dated as of September 22, 2016, by and between us and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (now taken over by our new transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, or "AST"), as rights agent.

On November 22, 2016, we completed a private placement of up to 3,160 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares for an aggregate principal amount of up to $3.0 million, or the Series B Transaction. Yorkville purchased 1,579 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at the initial closing of the Series B Transaction and 527 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares on November 28, 2016 for a total consideration of $2.0 million and has waived the right to purchase any additional Series B Convertible Preferred Shares. In connection with the Series B Transaction, we also entered into a registration rights agreement with Yorkville to provide it with certain registration rights. As of August 15, 2017, we have issued 18,026 common shares in connection with the conversions of all of our Series B Convertible Preferred Shares.

On February 1, 2017, the Commission declared effective our registration statement on Form F-1, which covers the registration of (i) $200,000,000 common shares (including preferred stock purchase rights), preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, rights and units and (ii) 1,000,000 common shares offered for resale by Yorkville underlying the Series B Convertible Preferred Shares issued in the Private Placement.

On February 2, 2017, we launched a registered equity line for the sale of up to $3,099,367 of our common shares from time to time to Kalani Investments Limited, or Kalani, over the next 24 months pursuant to the Purchase Agreement between us and Kalani dated February 2, 2017. On March 17, 2017, we expanded the registered equity line to allow for the sale of up to $6,940,867 of our common shares from time to time to Kalani pursuant to an amendment to the Purchase Agreement dated February 2, 2017, or the First Amendment. On March 27, 2017, we further expanded the registered equity line to allow for the sale of up to $12,540,867 of our common shares to Kalani, or the Second Amendment. On April 4, 2017, we further expanded the registered equity line to allow for the sale of up to $20,340,867 of our common shares, or the Third Amendment. On April 27, 2017, we further expanded the registered equity line to allow for the sale of up to $40,340,867 of our common shares to Kalani, or the Fourth Amendment. On October 12, 2017 we announced that we have issued and sold the total dollar amount of common shares under the registered equity line.

On February 17, 2017, we closed a private placement with a non-U.S. institutional investor non-affiliated with us but affiliated with Kalani Investments Limited ("Kalani") for the sale of 7,500 newly issued Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, which were convertible into our common shares, for $7.5 million pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, or the Series C Transaction. As of November 8, 2017, we have issued 904,646 common shares in connection with the conversions of all our Series C Convertible Preferred Shares.

On February 20, 2017, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Style Maritime Ltd., acquired a 40% ownership interest in Eco Seven Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation, or Eco Seven, from Malibu Shipmanagement Co., a Marshall Islands corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lax Trust for an aggregate purchase price of $6.5 million, pursuant to a share purchase agreement, or the Eco Seven Transaction. Eco Seven owns M/T Stenaweco Elegance, a 50,118 dwt product/chemical tanker that was delivered from Hyundai on February 28, 2017. Eco Seven was also a party to a time charter agreement that commenced upon the vessel's delivery at a rate of $16,500 per day for the first three years, and at the charterer's option, $17,500 for the first optional year and $18,500 for the second optional year. The Eco Seven Transaction was approved by a special committee of our board of directors, or the Transaction Committee, of which the majority of the directors were independent. In the course of its deliberations, the Transaction Committee hired and obtained a fairness opinion from an independent financial advisor.

Throughout 2017, we issued multiple promissory notes to Kalani and Xanthe Holdings Ltd, or Xanthe, a non-affiliated, non-US company, affiliated with Kalani. On February 6, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued a $3.5 million 6% Original Issue Discount Promissory Note to Kalani for cash consideration of $3.3 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than May 15, 2017. On March 22, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued a $5.0 million 4% Original Issue Discount Promissory Note to Kalani for cash consideration of $4.8 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than October 7, 2017. On March 28, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued an unsecured promissory note to Kalani in the principal amount of $10 million for cash consideration of $10 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than August 25, 2017. On April 5, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued an unsecured promissory note to Kalani in the principal amount of $7.7 million for cash consideration of $7.7 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than September 4, 2017. On May 15, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued an unsecured promissory note to Xanthe in the principal amount of $5.0 million for cash consideration of $5.0 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than August 23, 2017. On June 26, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued an unsecured promissory note to Kalani in the principal amount of $3.0 million for cash consideration of $3.0 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than October 24, 2017. On July 12, 2017, we entered into a note purchase agreement and issued an unsecured promissory note to Xanthe in the principal amount of $3.1 million for cash consideration of $3.0 million, with a mandatory redemption no later than November 7, 2017. On September 15, 2017, we issued an unsecured promissory note in the amount of $2.0 million with an original issue discount of 1% to Xanthe. As of December 31, 2018 all of the promissory notes issued to Kalani and Xanthe have been settled.

On March 27, 2017, pursuant to the management agreement between us and CSM, a related party affiliated with the family of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, our board of directors granted to CSM a $1.25 million cash performance fee for its dedication and provision to us of high quality ship management and newbuilding supervision services during 2016.

On March 27, 2017, our board of directors granted to our executive officers an aggregate cash bonus of $1.5 million in consideration of the successful completion of our newbuilding program in 2016.

On March 30, 2017, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Style Maritime Ltd., acquired another 9% ownership interest in Eco Seven from Malibu Shipmanagement Co., a Marshall Islands corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lax Trust, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.5 million, or the Eco Seven Extended Transaction. Pursuant to the Eco Seven Extended Transaction, our ownership interest in Eco Seven increased to 49%. On May 30, 2017, we announced that we entered into an agreement with Eco Seven to purchase for $6.5 million, an additional 41% interest, increasing our interest to 90% ownership in Eco Seven.

On March 30, 2017, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Lyndon International Co., acquired a 49% ownership interest in City of Athens from Fly Free Company, a Marshall Islands corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lax Trust, for an aggregate purchase price of $4.2 million, or the City of Athens Transaction. City of Athens is currently a party to a newbuilding contract for the construction of M/T Eco Holmby Hills, a 50,000 dwt newbuilding product/chemical scheduled for delivery from Hyundai in January 2018.

On March 30, 2017, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Gramos Shipping Company Co., acquired a 49% ownership interest in Eco Nine from Maxima International Co., a Marshall Islands corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lax Trust, for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 million, or the Eco Nine Transaction. Eco Nine is currently a party to a newbuilding contract for the construction of M/T Eco Palm Springs, a 50,000 dwt newbuilding product/chemical scheduled for delivery from Hyundai in April 2018.

The Eco Seven Extended Transaction, the City of Athens Transaction the Astarte Transaction and the Eco Nine Transaction were approved by a special committee of our board of directors, or the Transaction Committee, of which the majority of the directors were independent. In the course of its deliberations, the Transaction Committee hired and obtained a fairness opinion from an independent financial advisor.

On November 3, 2017 we held our Special Meeting of Shareholders where our shareholders approved and adopted one or more amendments to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to effect one or more reverse stock splits of our issued common shares at a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-10,000 and in the aggregate at a ratio of not more than one-for-10,000, inclusive, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range to be determined by our board of directors and authorized our board of directors to implement any such reverse stock split by filing any such amendment with the Registrar of Corporations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

On November 7, 2017, we entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement, or the First Purchase Agreement, with Crede CG III, Ltd., or Crede CG, pursuant to which we agreed to sell up to $25 million of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 to Crede CG over a period of 24 months, subject to certain limitations. On December 14, 2017 the First Purchase Agreement was completed.

On November 13, 2017, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Crede Capital Group LLC, or Crede, pursuant to which we issued an unsecured promissory note in the original principal amount of $12.5 million with a single revolving option for additional $5.0 million that we exercised on November 20, 2017. As of the date hereof, the promissory note has been settled.

On November 24, 2017, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of PCH77 Shipping Company Limited, a Marshall Islands company that owns a new building contract for M/T Eco California, a high specification 50,000 dwt Medium Range ("MR") product/chemical tanker under construction at Hyundai in Korea from an entity affiliated with Mr. Evangelos Pistiolis. We paid $3.6 million for the outstanding shares and the vessel is scheduled for delivery during January 2019. The abovementioned transaction was approved by a special committee of our board of directors, or the Transaction Committee, of which all of the directors were independent. In the course of its deliberations, the Transaction Committee hired and obtained a fairness opinion from an independent financial advisor. Upon its delivery, the vessel will be employed under a time charter with an oil major for a firm duration of two years with a charterer's option to extend for one additional year. The rate of the charter consists of a fixed amount per day plus a 50% profit share for earned rates over the fixed amount.

On December 11, 2017, we entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement, or the Second Purchase Agreement, with Crede CG pursuant to which we agreed to sell up to $25 million of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 to Crede CG over a period of 24 months, subject to certain limitations. As of the date of this report up to $6.1 million worth of shares is remaining that we may sell pursuant to the Second Purchase Agreement. On March 22, 2017 we announced that we would not make any sales under the Second Purchase Agreement for a period of 12 months.

On December 14, 2017, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Crede, pursuant to which we issued an unsecured promissory note in the original principal amount of $12,500,000 with revolving options for two additional $5.0 million notes to Crede.

On January 2, 2018, the Compensation Committee recommended to our board of directors and the board of directors approved an award of $2.25 million, in cash as incentive compensation to Mr. Evangelos Pistiolis, or his nominee, to be distributed at his own discretion amongst executives.

On January 2, 2018, the Compensation Committee recommended to our board of directors and the board of directors approved an award of $1.25 million in cash as incentive compensation to CSM.

On January 5, 2018, we entered into an Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement with Crede, pursuant to which we issued an unsecured promissory note in the original principal amount of $5.369 million with a single revolving option for an additional $4.631 million. On February 9, 2018 the Note Purchase Agreement was further amended to increase the last revolving option to $6.4 million and on the same date we exercised the said option in full.

On January 31, 2018, we acquired:

100% of the issued and outstanding shares of PCH Dreaming Inc., a Marshall Islands company that has entered into a new building contract for a high specification 50,000 dwt Medium Range ("MR") product/chemical tanker under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd. in South Korea and scheduled for delivery during March 2019. We acquired the shares from an entity affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer for an aggregate purchase price of $3.95 million.

100% of the issued and outstanding shares of South California Inc., a Marshall Islands company that has entered into a new building contract for a high specification, scrubber-equipped, 157,000 dwt Suezmax Crude Oil Carrier under construction at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in South Korea and scheduled for delivery during April 2019. We acquired the shares from an entity affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer for an aggregate purchase price of $8.95 million.

100% of the issued outstanding shares of Malibu Warrior Inc., a Marshall Islands company that has entered into a new building contract for a high specification, scrubber-equipped, 157,000 dwt Suezmax Crude Oil Carrier under construction at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in South Korea and scheduled for delivery during May 2019. We acquired the shares from an entity affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer for an aggregate purchase price of $8.95 million.

10% of the issued and outstanding shares of Eco Seven Inc., a Marshall Islands company that owns M/T Stena Elegance, a high specification 50,000 dwt MR product/chemical tanker delivered in February 2017 at Hyundai Vinashin. We acquired the shares from an entity affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer for an aggregate purchase price of $1.6 million. As a result of the transaction we own 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Eco Seven Inc.

Each of the acquisitions was approved by a special committee of our board of directors, (the "Transaction Committee"), of which all of the directors were independent. In the course of its deliberations, the Transaction Committee hired and obtained an opinion on the fairness of the consideration of this transaction from two independent financial advisors.

On February 20, 2018 we appointed AST as our new transfer agent and registrar and warrant agent for the 2014 Warrants. All of our directly held common shares and 2014 Warrants have been transferred from Computershare to AST's platform, with no action required by any shareholder regarding the change in our transfer agent. (AST can be reached as follows: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 55 Challenger Road Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660, Office: 201-806-4181).

On March 12, 2018 our 50% owned subsidiaries, City of Athens and Eco Nine entered into a loan agreement with ABN Amro Bank for a senior debt facility of up to $35.9 million to fund, the delivery of M/T Eco Holmby Hills and M/T Eco Palm Springs ($17.9 million for each vessel). The loan will be payable in 20 consecutive quarterly installments of $0.3 million per vessel, commencing three months from draw down, and a balloon payment of $11.9 million per vessel payable together with the last installment. The credit facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.90%.

On March 15, 2018, our 50% owned subsidiary City of Athens took delivery of M/T Eco Holmby Hills, a 50,000 dwt newbuilding product/chemical tanker constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Vinashin shipyard. On March 20, 2018 the vessel commenced its time charter agreement with Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd.

On March 22, 2018, we announced that for 12 months we: (i) do not intend to conduct any offerings that include variable priced securities; (ii) do not intend to issue any further shares under the Second Purchase Agreement; (iii) Race Navigation Inc., a company controlled by Lax Trust, an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of certain family members of Evangelos Pistiolis, will not convert any of its 1,250,000 warrants pursuant to a standstill agreement with us.

On March 26, 2018, we effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split and announced that we do not intend to conduct another reverse stock split of our common shares for the 12 calendar months from March 26, 2018.

On April 11, 2018, we regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for the Nasdaq Capital Market, set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2).

In April of 2018, we extended the firm period of the time charter of M/T Eco Fleet with BP Shipping Limited for six months.

On May 25, 2018, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement, or the Equity Distribution Agreement, with Maxim Group LLC, or Maxim, as sales agent, under which we were permitted to offer and sell, from time to time through Maxim, up to $14.25 million of our common shares, par value $0.01 per share. On July 23, 2018, we terminated the Equity Distribution Agreement.

On May 23, 2018, we took delivery of our 50% owned 49,703 dwt newbuilding product/chemical tanker M/T Eco Palm Springs, constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Vinashin shipyard and on May 26, 2018 the vessel commenced its three year time charter employment with Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd.

In June of 2018, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement, or IRS, in order to hedge our exposure to changes in the interest rate of our Alpha Bank facility. Furthermore in June of 2018, our unconsolidated 50% subsidiaries City of Athens Inc. and Eco Nine Inc. entered into two separate IRSs in order to hedge their exposure to changes in the interest rates of their ABN Amro Bank facilities. As a result of these new IRSs both we and our unconsolidated 50% subsidiaries had, as of the date of the IRS, fully hedged our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates in relation to all post-delivery debt facilities then outstanding.

On June 29, 2018, we entered into a sale and leaseback agreement and a 5 year time charter with Cargill International SA (“Cargill”), a leading vessel operator and freight-trading business in the bulk shipping sector, for our vessel M/T Eco Marina Del Ray.

On September 7, 2018 we took delivery of M/T Eco Palm Desert, a 50,000 dwt newbuilding product/chemical tanker constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Vinashin shipyard and on September 12, 2018 the vessel commenced its three year time charter employment with Central Tanker Chartering Inc.

On October 24, 2018, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with one institutional investor, pursuant to which we sold 2,000,000 shares of our common stock in a registered direct offering. We also issued warrants to purchase up to 3,500,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. Maxim Group LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

In October 2018, we agreed to enter into time charter employment with Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd for our product/chemical tanker M/T Eco Fleet. The vessel will be employed for a firm period of 36 months plus two additional 12 month periods, at the charterer's option. The revenue backlog expected to be generated by this fixture, assuming all options are exercised, is about $25 million.

In November 2018, we agreed a new time charter employment contract for 2 years with BP Shipping Ltd for our product/chemical tanker M/T Eco Revolution. The new time charter will commence in January 2019 immediately after the expiry of the present time charter employment contract. The revenue backlog expected to be generated by this fixture is about $10 million.

On December 21, 2018 we entered into a sale and leaseback agreement (“SLB”) with BoComm Leasing, a non-affiliated party, for M/T Nord Valiant and M/T Eco California (Hull No 8218). Consummation of the SLB took place on January 17, 2019 for M/T Nord Valiant and on January 30, 2019 for M/T Eco California. Following the sale, we bareboat chartered back M/T Nord Valiant for five years and for the M/T Eco California for seven years at a bareboat hire of $5,875 per day and $6,550 per day respectively. As part of this transaction, we have continuous options, after the third year, to buy back the vessels at purchase prices stipulated in the bareboat agreement depending on when the option is exercised. The gross proceeds from the sale were $21.7 million for M/T Nord Valiant and $24.1 million for M/T Eco California. We used $18.5 million of the sale and leaseback proceeds to prepay in full the outstanding loan on the vessel (Tranche C of the ABN Facility).

On December 3, 2018 we entered into an SLB with China Merchants Bank Financial Leasing (“CMBFL”), a non-affiliated party, for M/T Eco Bel Air (Hull No 874) and M/T Eco Beverly Hills (Hull No 875). Consummation of the SLB is expected to take place on the vessels delivery date currently planned for April and May 2019 respectively. Following the sale, we will bareboat charter back the vessels for a period of seven years at a bareboat hire of $16,361 per day per vessel. As part of this transaction, we have continuous options, after the third year, to buy back the vessels at purchase prices stipulated in the bareboat agreement depending on when the option is exercised. The gross proceeds from the sale will be $91.4 million for both vessels.

Recent Developments

On January 11, 2019, we entered into a warrant exchange agreement with the sole holder of the 2018 Warrants for the reduction of the exercise price of said warrants from $1.50 to $1.02. On the same date 300,000 2018 Warrants were exercised. On February 5, 2019, we entered into an amendment of the 2018 Warrants for the reduction of the exercise price of said warrants from $1.02 to $0.70. On the same date 714,285 2018 Warrants were exercised. Between February 21 and February 25, 2019 the remaining 932,715 2018 Warrants were exercised.

On January 30, 2019, we took delivery of M/T Eco California. On February 4, 2019 the vessel commenced its' time charter agreement with Shell.

On March 13, 2019, we took delivery of M/T Eco Marina Del Ray. On March 18, 2019 the vessel commenced its time charter agreement with Cargill and concurrently agreements were consummated for the vessel’s sale and leaseback to Cargill.

B. Business Overview

We are an international owner and operator of modern, fuel efficient eco medium range, or MR, tanker vessels focusing on the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products (clean and dirty) and bulk liquid chemicals. As of the date of this report, our fleet consists of two bareboat chartered-in 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers vessels, the M/T Stenaweco Energy and the M/T Stenaweco Evolution, two 39,000 dwt product/chemical tankers vessels, the M/T Eco Fleet and the M/T Eco Revolution, six 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers, the M/T Stenaweco Excellence, the M/T Nord Valiant, the M/T Stenaweco Elegance, the M/T Eco Palm Desert, the M/T Eco California and the M/T. Eco Marina Del Ray. We also own 50% interests in two 50,000 dwt product/chemical tankers, M/T Eco Holmby Hills and the M/T Palm Springs.

Additionally we own two newbuilding vessels as per the below table:

Name	Deadweight	Delivery date	Shipyard
M/T Eco Bel Air (Hull No 874)	159,000	April 2019	Hyundai Samho S. Korea
M/T Eco Beverly Hills (Hull No 875)	159,000	May 2019	Hyundai Samho S. Korea

For more information, please see "Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company—Recent Developments."

We intend to continue to review the market in order to identify potential acquisition targets on accretive terms.

We believe we have established a reputation in the international ocean transport industry for operating and maintaining vessels with high standards of performance, reliability and safety. We have assembled a management team comprised of executives who have extensive experience operating large and diversified fleets of tankers and who have strong ties to a number of national, regional and international oil companies, charterers and traders.

Our Fleet

The following tables present our fleet list as of the date of this annual report:

Chartered-in fleet:

Name	Deadweight		Vessel Type	Charterer	End of firm period	Charterer's Optional Periods	Gross Rate fixed period/ options
M/T Stenaweco Energy		50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Stena Weco A/S	February 2021	1+1 years	$15,616 / $17,350 / $18,100
M/T Stenaweco Evolution		50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Stena Weco A/S	October 2021	1+1 years	$15,516 / $17,200 / $18,000

Operating fleet:

Name	Deadweight	Vessel Type	Charterer	End of firm period	Charterer's Optional Periods	Gross Rate fixed period/ options
M/T Eco Fleet	39,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd	April 2022	1+1 years	$12,600 1^st year, $13,100 2^nd year and $13,600 3^rd year / $14,350 / $15,600
M/T Eco Revolution	39,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	BP Shipping Limited	January 2021	1+1 years	$13,500 / $16,000 / $16,750
M/T Stenaweco Excellence	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Stena Weco A/S	November 2020	1+1 years	$15,000 until June 2019 and $16,200 after / $17,200 / $18,000
M/T Nord Valiant	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	DS Norden A/S	August 2021	1+1 years	$16,800 / $17,600 / $18,400
M/T Stenaweco Elegance	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Stena Weco A/S	March 2021	1+1 years	$16,500 / $17,500 / $18,500
M/T Eco Palm Desert	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Central Tankers Chartering Inc	September 2021	1+1 years	$14,750 / $15,250 / $15,750
M/T Eco California	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Shell Tankers Singapore Private Limited	January 2021	1 year	$13,750 plus 50% profit share/ $13,950 plus 50% profit share
M/T Eco Marina Del Ray	50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Cargill	March 2020	1+1 years	$16,000 / $17,000 / $18,000

Joint Venture fleet (50% owned):

Name	Deadweight		Vessel Type	Charterer	End of firm period	Charterer's Optional Periods	Gross Rate fixed period/ options
M/T Eco Holmby Hills		50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd	March 2021	1+1 years	$14,100 1^st year, $14,600 2^nd year and $15,025 3^rd year / $15,400 / $16,400
M/T Eco Palm Springs		50,000	Medium Range (“MR”) Tanker	Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd	May 2021	1+1 years	$14,250 1^st year, $14,750 2^nd year and $15,175 3^rd year / $15,550 / $16,550

Fleet under construction:

Name	Deadweight	Vessel Type	Charterer	End of firm period	Charterer's Optional Periods	Gross Rate fixed period/ options	Delivery date	Shipyard
M/T Eco Bel Air	159,000	Suezmax Tanker	BP Shipping Limited	April 2022	1+1 years	$24,500 / $27,500 / $29,000	April 2019	Hyundai Samho S. Korea
M/T Eco Beverly Hills	159,000	Suezmax Tanker	BP Shipping Limited	May 2022	1+1 years	$24,500 / $27,500 / $29,000	May 2019	Hyundai Samho S. Korea

Management of our Fleet

Our Fleet Manager provides all operational, technical and commercial management services for our fleet. Please see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Central Shipping Monaco Letter Agreement, Management Agreements, and Other Agreements."

Officers, Crewing and Employees

As of the date of this annual report we employ directly only one shore-based employee. Our executive officers and a number of administrative employees are provided according to an agreement with Central Mare. Please see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Central Shipping Monaco Letter Agreement, Management Agreements, and Other Agreements." In addition, our Fleet Manager is responsible for recruiting, mainly through a crewing agent, the senior officers and all other crew members for our vessels. We believe the streamlining of crewing arrangements will ensure that all our vessels will be crewed with experienced seamen that have the qualifications and licenses required by international regulations and shipping conventions.

The International Shipping Industry

The seaborne transportation industry is a vital link in international trade, with ocean going vessels representing the most efficient and often the only method of transporting large volumes of basic commodities and finished products. Demand for tankers is dictated by world oil demand and trade, which is influenced by many factors, including international economic activity; geographic changes in oil production, processing, and consumption; oil price levels; inventory policies of the major oil and oil trading companies; and strategic inventory policies of countries such as the United States, China and India.

Shipping demand, measured in tonne-miles, is a product of (a) the amount of cargo transported in ocean going vessels, multiplied by (b) the distance over which this cargo is transported. The distance is the more variable element of the tonne-mile demand equation and is determined by seaborne trading patterns, which are principally influenced by the locations of production and consumption. Seaborne trading patterns are also periodically influenced by geo-political events that divert vessels from normal trading patterns, as well as by inter-regional trading activity created by commodity supply and demand imbalances. Tonnage of oil shipped is primarily a function of global oil consumption, which is driven by economic activity as well as the long-term impact of oil prices on the location and related volume of oil production. Tonnage of oil shipped is also influenced by transportation alternatives (such as pipelines) and the output of refineries.

Demand for tankers and tonnage of oil shipped is primarily a function of global oil consumption, which is driven by economic activity, as well as the long-term impact of oil prices on the location and related volume of oil production. Global oil demand returned to limited growth in 2010 and has since been expanding at a modest pace, as a steady rise in Asia has outweighed decreasing demand in Europe and in the United States. According to the International Energy Agency, global oil demand for 2018 has risen to 99.2 million barrels/day compared to 97.9 million barrels/day during 2017.

We strategically monitor developments in the tanker industry on a regular basis and, subject to market demand, will seek to enter into shorter or longer time or bareboat charters according to prevailing market conditions.

We will compete for charters on the basis of price, vessel location, size, age and condition of the vessel, as well as on our reputation as an operator. We will arrange our time charters and bareboat charters through the use of brokers, who negotiate the terms of the charters based on market conditions. We will compete primarily with owners of tankers in the handymax and Suezmax class sizes. Ownership of tankers is highly fragmented and is divided among major oil companies and independent vessel owners.

Seasonality

We operate our tankers in markets that have historically exhibited seasonal variations in demand and, therefore, charter rates. This seasonality may affect operating results. However, to the extent that our vessels are chartered at fixed rates on a long-term basis, seasonal factors will not have a significant direct effect on our business.

Risk of Loss and Liability Insurance

General

The operation of any cargo vessel includes risks such as mechanical failure, physical damage, collision, property loss, cargo loss or damage and business interruption due to political circumstances in foreign countries, piracy incidents, hostilities and labor strikes. In addition, there is always an inherent possibility of marine disaster, including oil spills and other environmental mishaps, and the liabilities arising from owning and operating vessels in international trade. OPA, which imposes virtually unlimited liability upon shipowners, operators and bareboat charterers of any vessel trading in the exclusive economic zone of the United States for certain oil pollution accidents in the United States, has made liability insurance more expensive for shipowners and operators trading in the United States market. While we maintain hull and machinery insurance, war risks insurance, protection and indemnity cover and freight, demurrage and defense cover for our operating fleet in amounts that we believe to be prudent to cover normal risks in our operations, we may not be able to achieve or maintain this level of coverage throughout a vessel's useful life. We carry insurance coverage as customary in the shipping industry. However, not all risks can be insured, specific claims may be rejected, and we might not be always able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates.

Insurance

We procure hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance, which includes environmental damage and pollution insurance and war risk insurance and freight, demurrage and defense insurance for our fleet. Our vessels are covered up to at least their fair market value, with deductibles of $100,000 per vessel per incident. For any vessels that are under bareboat charters, the charterer is responsible for arranging and paying for all insurances that may be required.

Protection and indemnity insurance is provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations, or P&I Associations, covers our third-party liabilities in connection with our shipping activities. This includes third-party liability and other related expenses of injury or death of crew, passengers and other third parties, loss or damage to cargo, claims arising from collisions with other vessels, damage to other third-party property, pollution arising from oil or other substances, and salvage, towing and other related costs, including wreck removal. Protection and indemnity insurance is a form of mutual indemnity insurance, extended by protection and indemnity mutual associations, or "clubs." Cover is subject to the current statutory limits of liability and the applicable deductibles per category of claim.

Our current protection and indemnity insurance coverage for pollution is $1 billion per vessel per incident. The 13 P&I Associations that comprise the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world's commercial tonnage and have entered into a pooling agreement to reinsure each association's liabilities. The International Group's website states that the Pool provides a mechanism for sharing all claims in excess of US$ 10 million up to, currently, approximately US$ 8.2 billion. As a member of a P&I Association, which is a member of the International Group, we are subject to calls payable to the associations based on our claim records as well as the claim records of all other members of the individual associations and members of the shipping pool of P&I Associations comprising the International Group.

Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry

Government regulation and laws significantly affect the ownership and operation of our fleet. We are subject to international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and regulations in force in the countries in which our vessels may operate or are registered relating to safety and health and environmental protection including the storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, and the remediation of contamination and liability for damage to natural resources. Compliance with such laws, regulations and other requirements entails significant expense, including vessel modifications and implementation of certain operating procedures.

A variety of government and private entities subject our vessels to both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. These entities include the local port authorities (applicable national authorities such as the United States Coast Guard ("USCG"), harbor master or equivalent), classification societies, flag state administrations (countries of registry) and charterers, particularly terminal operators. Certain of these entities require us to obtain permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations for the operation of our vessels. Failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or result in the temporary suspension of the operation of one or more of our vessels.

Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for vessels that conform to stricter environmental standards. We are required to maintain operating standards for all of our vessels that emphasize operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of our officers and crews and compliance with United States and international regulations. We believe that the operation of our vessels is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that our vessels have all material permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations. However, because such laws and regulations frequently change and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements, or the impact of these requirements on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. In addition, a future serious marine incident that causes significant adverse environmental impact could result in additional legislation or regulation that could negatively affect our profitability.

International Maritime Organization

The IMO, the United Nations agency for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by vessels, has adopted MARPOL," the SOLAS Convention, and the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966 (the "LL Convention"). MARPOL establishes environmental standards relating to oil leakage or spilling, garbage management, sewage, air emissions, handling and disposal of noxious liquids and the handling of harmful substances in packaged forms. MARPOL is applicable to drybulk, tanker and LNG carriers, among other vessels, and is broken into six Annexes, each of which regulates a different source of pollution. Annex I relates to oil leakage or spilling; Annexes II and III relate to harmful substances carried in bulk in liquid or in packaged form, respectively; Annexes IV and V relate to sewage and garbage management, respectively; and Annex VI, lastly, relates to air emissions. Annex VI was separately adopted by the IMO in September of 1997.

In 2012, the IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee, or the "MEPC," adopted a resolution amending the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, or the "IBC Code." The provisions of the IBC Code are mandatory under MARPOL and the SOLAS Convention. These amendments, which entered into force in June 2014, pertain to revised international certificates of fitness for the carriage of dangerous chemicals in bulk and identifying new products that fall under the IBC Code. All of our vessels comply with IBC Code regulations.

In 2013, the IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee, or the "MEPC," adopted a resolution amending MARPOL Annex I Condition Assessment Scheme, or "CAS." These amendments became effective on October 1, 2014, and require compliance with the 2011 International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, or "ESP Code," which provides for enhanced inspection programs. All of our vessels comply with Environmental, Safety and Health Code requirements.

Air Emissions

In September of 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to MARPOL to address air pollution from vessels. Effective May 2005, Annex VI sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from all commercial vessel exhausts and prohibits "deliberate emissions" of ozone depleting substances (such as halons and chlorofluorocarbons), emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks, and the shipboard incineration of specific substances. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions, as explained below. Emissions of "volatile organic compounds" from certain vessels, and the shipboard incineration (from incinerators installed after January 1, 2000) of certain substances (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs) are also prohibited. We believe that all our vessels are currently compliant in all material respects with these regulations.

The MEPC, adopted amendments to Annex VI regarding emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and ozone depleting substances, which entered into force on July 1, 2010. The amended Annex VI seeks to further reduce air pollution by, among other things, implementing a progressive reduction of the amount of sulfur contained in any fuel oil used on board ships. On October 27, 2016, at its 70th session, the MEPC agreed to implement a global 0.5% m/m sulfur oxide emissions limit (reduced from 3.50%) starting from January 1, 2020. This limitation can be met by using low-sulfur compliant fuel oil, alternative fuels, or certain exhaust gas cleaning systems. Once the cap becomes effective, ships will be required to obtain bunker delivery notes and International Air Pollution Prevention ("IAPP") Certificates from their flag states that specify sulfur content. Additionally, at MEPC 73, amendments to Annex VI to prohibit the carriage of bunkers above 0.5% sulphur on ships were adopted and will take effect March 1, 2020. These regulations subject ocean-going vessels to stringent emissions controls, and may cause us to incur substantial costs.

Sulfur content standards are even stricter within certain "Emission Control Areas" ("ECAs"). As of January 1, 2015, ships operating within an ECA were not permitted to use fuel with sulfur content in excess of 0.1%. Amended Annex VI establishes procedures for designating new ECAs. Currently, the IMO has designated four ECAs, including specified portions of the Baltic Sea area, North Sea area, North American area and United States Caribbean area. Ocean-going vessels in these areas will be subject to stringent emission controls and may cause us to incur additional costs. Other areas in China are subject to local regulations that impose stricter emission controls. If other ECAs are approved by the IMO, or other new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels are adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.

Amended Annex VI also establishes new tiers of stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. At the MEPC meeting held from March to April 2014, amendments to Annex VI were adopted which address the date on which Tier III Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) standards in ECAs will go into effect. Under the amendments, Tier III NOx standards apply to ships that operate in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea ECAs designed for the control of NOx produced by vessels with a marine diesel engine installed and constructed on or after January 1, 2016. Tier III requirements could apply to areas that will be designated for Tier III NOx in the future. At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, the MEPC approved the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for nitrogen oxide for ships built after January 1, 2021. The EPA promulgated equivalent (and in some senses stricter) emissions standards in late 2009. As a result of these designations or similar future designations, we may be required to incur additional operating or other costs in the long term, taking into consideration that all our current fleet vessels are constructed prior January 1, 2016.

As determined at the MEPC 70, the new Regulation 22A of MARPOL Annex VI became effective as of March 1, 2018 and requires ships above 5,000 gross tonnage to collect and report annual data on fuel oil consumption to an IMO database, with the first year of data collection commencing on January 1, 2019. The IMO intends to use such data as the first step in its roadmap (through 2023) for developing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as discussed further below.

As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL made mandatory certain measures relating to energy efficiency for ships. All ships are now required to develop and implement Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans ("SEEMPS"), and new ships must be designed in compliance with minimum energy efficiency levels per capacity mile as defined by the Energy Efficiency Design Index ("EEDI"). Under these measures, by 2025, all new ships built will be 30% more energy efficient than those built in 2014. All of our vessels comply with standards.

All of our vessels currently in service have been designed to operate effectively with heavy fuel oil ("HFO") and Ultra Low Sulphur Heavy Fuel Oil ("ULHFO"). The last two vessels delivered to our company (September 2018 & January 2019) have been built as “scrubber ready” and applicable notation has been assigned by the Classification Society. All the present ongoing new building projects will be fitted with open loop hybrid ready Sox scrubber systems.

We may incur costs to comply with these revised standards. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could require the installation of expensive emission control systems and could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Safety Management System Requirements

The SOLAS Convention was amended to address the safe manning of vessels and emergency training drills. The Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (the "LLMC") sets limitations of liability for a loss of life or personal injury claim or a property claim against ship owners. We believe that our vessels are in substantial compliance with SOLAS and LLMC standards.

Under Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention, or the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the "ISM Code"), our operations are also subject to environmental standards and requirements. The ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for responding to emergencies. We rely upon the safety management system that we and our technical management team have developed for compliance with the ISM Code. The failure of a vessel owner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject such party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.

The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate for each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel's management with the ISM Code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel can obtain a safety management certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of compliance, issued by each flag state, under the ISM Code. We have obtained applicable documents of compliance for our offices and safety management certificates for all of our vessels for which the certificates are required by the IMO. The document of compliance and safety management certificate are renewed as required.

Regulation II-1/3-10 of the SOLAS Convention governs ship construction and stipulates that ships over 150 meters in length must have adequate strength, integrity and stability to minimize risk of loss or pollution. Goal-based standards amendments in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 entered into force in 2012, with July 1, 2016 set for application to new oil tankers and bulk carriers. The SOLAS Convention regulation II-1/3-10 on goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers, which entered into force on January 1, 2012, requires that all oil tankers and bulk carriers of 150 meters in length and above, for which the building contract is placed on or after July 1, 2016, satisfy applicable structural requirements conforming to the functional requirements of the International Goal-based Ship Construction Standards for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (GBS Standards). All of our current fleet vessels’ comply with respective SOLAS structural requirements.

The IMO has also adopted the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers ("STCW"). As of February 2017, all seafarers are required to meet the STCW standards and be in possession of a valid STCW certificate. Flag states that have ratified SOLAS and STCW generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS and STCW requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.

The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and MEPC, respectively, each adopted relevant parts of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Water (the "Polar Code"). The Polar Code, which entered into force on January 1, 2017, covers design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue as well as environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the waters surrounding the two poles. It also includes mandatory measures regarding safety and pollution prevention as well as recommendatory provisions. The Polar Code applies to new ships constructed after January 1, 2017, and after January 1, 2018, ships constructed before January 1, 2017 are required to meet the relevant requirements by the earlier of their first intermediate or renewal survey.

Furthermore, recent action by the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and United States agencies indicate that cybersecurity regulations for the maritime industry are likely to be further developed in the near future in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. For example, cyber-risk management systems must be incorporated by ship-owners and managers by 2021. This might cause companies to create additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures. The impact of such regulations is hard to predict at this time.

Pollution Control and Liability Requirements

The IMO has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for pollution in international waters and the territorial waters of the signatories to such conventions. For example, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (the "BWM Convention") in 2004. The BWM Convention entered into force on September 9, 2017. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of new or invasive aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments. The BWM Convention's implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits, and require all ships to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast Water management certificate. All of our vessels comply with BWM Convention.

On December 4, 2013, the IMO Assembly passed a resolution revising the application dates of BWM Convention so that the dates are triggered by the entry into force date and not the dates originally in the BWM Convention. This, in effect, makes all vessels delivered before the entry into force date "existing vessels" and allows for the installation of ballast water management systems on such vessels at the first IOPP renewal survey following entry into force of the convention. The MEPC adopted updated guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) at MEPC 70. At MEPC 71, the schedule regarding the BWM Convention's implementation dates was also discussed and amendments were introduced to extend the date existing vessels are subject to certain ballast water standards. Ships over 400 gross tons generally must comply with a "D-1 standard," requiring the exchange of ballast water only in open seas and away from coastal waters. The "D-2 standard" specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, and compliance dates vary depending on the IOPP renewal dates. Depending on the date of the IOPP renewal survey, existing vessels must comply with the D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most ships, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ballast Water Management systems, which include systems that make use of chemical, biocides, organisms or biological mechanisms, or which alter the chemical or physical characteristics of the Ballast Water, must be approved in accordance with IMO Guidelines (Regulation D-3). All of our vessels are equipped with BWMS and comply with D-1/D-2 standards.

Once mid-ocean ballast water treatment requirements become mandatory under the BWM Convention, the cost of compliance could increase for ocean carriers and may have a material effect on our operations. However, many countries already regulate the discharge of ballast water carried by vessels from country to country to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful species via such discharges. The U.S., for example, requires vessels entering its waters from another country to conduct mid-ocean ballast exchange, or undertake some alternate measure, and to comply with certain reporting requirements. All of our vessels comply with the BWM Convention.

The IMO adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as amended by different Protocols in 1976, 1984, and 1992, and amended in 2000 ("the CLC"). Under the CLC and depending on whether the country in which the damage results is a party to the 1992 Protocol to the CLC, a vessel's registered owner may be strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain exceptions. The 1992 Protocol changed certain limits on liability expressed using the International Monetary Fund currency unit, the Special Drawing Rights. The limits on liability have since been amended so that the compensation limits on liability were raised. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the shipowner's actual fault and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the shipowner's intentional or reckless act or omission where the shipowner knew pollution damage would probably result. The CLC requires ships over 2,000 tons covered by it to maintain insurance covering the liability of the owner in a sum equivalent to an owner's liability for a single incident. We have protection and indemnity insurance for environmental incidents. P&I Clubs in the International Group issue the required Bunkers Convention "Blue Cards" to enable signatory states to issue certificates. All of our vessels are in possession of a CLC State issued certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.

The IMO also adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (the "Bunker Convention") to impose strict liability on ship owners (including the registered owner, bareboat charterer, manager or operator) for pollution damage in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states caused by discharges of bunker fuel. The Bunker Convention requires registered owners of ships over 1,000 gross tons to maintain insurance for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the LLMC). With respect to non-ratifying states, liability for spills or releases of oil carried as fuel in ship's bunkers typically is determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the events or damages occur.

Ships are required to maintain a certificate attesting that they maintain adequate insurance to cover an incident. In jurisdictions, such as the United States where the CLC or the Bunker Convention has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or on a strict-liability basis. All of our vessels are in possession of CLC for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage issued Certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.

Anti‑Fouling Requirements

In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti‑fouling Systems on Ships, or the "Anti‑fouling Convention." The Anti‑fouling Convention, which entered into force on September 17, 2008, prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings to prevent the attachment of mollusks and other sea life to the hulls of vessels. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages will also be required to undergo an initial survey before the vessel is put into service or before an International Anti‑fouling System Certificate is issued for the first time; and subsequent surveys when the anti‑fouling systems are altered or replaced. We have obtained Anti‑fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti‑fouling Convention.

Compliance Enforcement

Noncompliance with the ISM Code or other IMO regulations may subject the ship owner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. The USCG and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code by applicable deadlines will be prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports, respectively. As of the date of this report, each of our vessels is ISM Code certified. However, there can be no assurance that such certificates will be maintained in the future. The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulations might have on our operations.

United States Regulations

The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA") established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills. OPA affects all "owners and operators" whose vessels trade or operate within the U.S., its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in U.S. waters, which includes the U.S.'s territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the U.S. The U.S. has also enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), which applies to the discharge of hazardous substances other than oil, except in limited circumstances, whether on land or at sea. OPA and CERCLA both define "owner and operator" in the case of a vessel as any person owning, operating or chartering by demise, the vessel. Both OPA and CERCLA impact our operations.

Under OPA, vessel owners and operators are "responsible parties" and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels, including bunkers (fuel). OPA defines these other damages broadly to include:

(i) injury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;

(ii) injury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;

(iv) loss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;

(iii) net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property, or natural resources;

(v) lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property or natural resources; and

(vi) net cost of increased or additional public services necessitated by removal activities following a discharge of oil, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and loss of subsistence use of natural resources.

OPA contains statutory caps on liability and damages; such caps do not apply to direct cleanup costs. Effective December 21, 2015, the USCG adjusted the limits of OPA liability for a tank vessel, other than a single-hull tank vessel, over 3,000 gross tons liability to the greater of $2,200 per gross ton or $18,796,800 (subject to periodic adjustment for inflation). These limits of liability do not apply if an incident was proximately caused by the violation of an applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulation by a responsible party (or its agent, employee or a person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship), or a responsible party's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The limitation on liability similarly does not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to (i) report the incident where the responsible party knows or has reason to know of the incident; (ii) reasonably cooperate and assist as requested in connection with oil removal activities; or (iii) without sufficient cause, comply with an order issued under the Federal Water Pollution Act (Section 311 (c), (e)) or the Intervention on the High Seas Act.

CERCLA contains a similar liability regime whereby owners and operators of vessels are liable for cleanup, removal and remedial costs, as well as damages for injury to, or destruction or loss of, natural resources, including the reasonable costs associated with assessing the same, and health assessments or health effects studies. There is no liability if the discharge of a hazardous substance results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war. Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $5.0 million for vessels carrying a hazardous substance as cargo and the greater of $300 per gross ton or $500,000 for any other vessel. These limits do not apply (rendering the responsible person liable for the total cost of response and damages) if the release or threat of release of a hazardous substance resulted from willful misconduct or negligence, or the primary cause of the release was a violation of applicable safety, construction or operating standards or regulations. The limitation on liability also does not apply if the responsible person fails or refused to provide all reasonable cooperation and assistance as requested in connection with response activities where the vessel is subject to OPA.

OPA and CERCLA each preserve the right to recover damages under existing law, including maritime tort law. OPA and CERCLA both require owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the USCG evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the maximum amount of liability to which the particular responsible person may be subject. Vessel owners and operators may satisfy their financial responsibility obligations by providing a proof of insurance, a surety bond, qualification as a self-insurer or a guarantee. All of our vessels comply and plan to comply with the USCG's financial responsibility regulations by providing applicable certificates of financial responsibility.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in additional regulatory initiatives or statutes, including higher liability caps under OPA, new regulations regarding offshore oil and gas drilling, and a pilot inspection program for offshore facilities. However, several of these initiatives and regulations have been or may be revised. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's ("BSEE") revised Production Safety Systems Rule ("PSSR"), effective December 27, 2018, modified and relaxed certain environmental and safety protections under the 2016 PSSR. Additionally, the BSEE released proposed changes to the Well Control Rule, which could roll back certain reforms regarding the safety of drilling operations, and the U.S. President proposed leasing new sections of U.S. waters to oil and gas companies for offshore drilling, expanding the U.S. waters that are available for such activity over the next five years. The effects of these proposals are currently unknown. Compliance with any new requirements of OPA and future legislation or regulations applicable to the operation of our vessels could impact the cost of our operations and adversely affect our business.

OPA specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, provided they accept, at a minimum, the levels of liability established under OPA and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for oil spills. Many U.S. states that border a navigable waterway have enacted environmental pollution laws that impose strict liability on a person for removal costs and damages resulting from a discharge of oil or a release of a hazardous substance. These laws may be more stringent than U.S. federal law. Moreover, some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for discharge of pollutants within their waters, although in some cases, states which have enacted this type of legislation have not yet issued implementing regulations defining vessel owners' responsibilities under these laws. We currently comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call.

We currently maintain pollution liability coverage insurance in the amount of $1 billion per incident for each of our vessels. If the damages from a catastrophic spill were to exceed our insurance coverage, it could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operation.

Other United States Environmental Initiatives

The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970 (including its amendments of 1977 and 1990) ("CAA") requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas. The CAA also requires states to draft State Implementation Plans, or SIPs, designed to attain national health-based air quality standards in each state. Although state-specific, SIPs may include regulations concerning emissions resulting from vessel loading and unloading operations by requiring the installation of vapor control equipment. Our vessels operating in such regulated port areas with restricted cargoes are equipped with vapor recovery systems that satisfy these existing requirements.

The U.S. Clean Water Act ("CWA") prohibits the discharge of oil, hazardous substances and ballast water in U.S. navigable waters unless authorized by a duly-issued permit or exemption, and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for any unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA and CERCLA. In 2015, the EPA expanded the definition of "waters of the United States" ("WOTUS"), thereby expanding federal authority under the CWA. Following litigation on the revised WOTUS rule, in December 2018, the EPA and Department of the Army proposed a revised, limited definition of "waters of the United States." The effect of this proposal on U.S. environmental regulations is still unknown.

The EPA and the USCG have also enacted rules relating to ballast water discharge, compliance with which requires the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial costs, and/or otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. Waters. The EPA will regulate these ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of certain vessels within United States waters pursuant to the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act ("VIDA"), which was signed into law on December 4, 2018 and will replace the 2013 Vessel General Permit ("VGP") program (which authorizes discharges incidental to operations of commercial vessels and contains numeric ballast water discharge limits for most vessels to reduce the risk of invasive species in U.S. waters, stringent requirements for exhaust gas scrubbers, and requirements for the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants) and current Coast Guard ballast water management regulations adopted under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act ("NISA"), such as mid-ocean ballast exchange programs and installation of approved USCG technology for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks bound for U.S. ports or entering U.S. waters. VIDA establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges under Clean Water Act (CWA), requires the EPA to develop performance standards for those discharges within two years of enactment, and requires the U.S. Coast Guard to develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations within two years of EPA's promulgation of standards. Under VIDA, all provisions of the 2013 VPG and USCG regulations regarding ballast water treatment remain in force and effect until the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard regulations are finalized. Non-military, non-recreational vessels greater than 79 feet in length must continue to comply with the requirements of the VGP, including submission of a Notice of Intent ("NOI") or retention of a PARI form and submission of annual reports. We have submitted NOIs for all our vessels where required.

European Union Regulations

In October 2009, the European Union amended a directive to impose criminal sanctions for illicit ship-source discharges of polluting substances, including minor discharges, if committed with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence and the discharges individually or in the aggregate result in deterioration of the quality of water. Aiding and abetting the discharge of a polluting substance may also lead to criminal penalties. The directive applies to all types of vessels, irrespective of their flag, but certain exceptions apply to warships or where human safety or that of the ship is in danger. Criminal liability for pollution may result in substantial penalties or fines and increased civil liability claims. Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 (amending EU Directive 2009/16/EC) governs the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and, subject to some exclusions, requires companies with ships over 5,000 gross tonnage to monitor and report carbon dioxide emissions annually starting on January 1, 2018, which may cause us to incur additional expenses.

The European Union has adopted several regulations and directives requiring, among other things, more frequent inspections of high-risk ships, as determined by type, age, and flag as well as the number of times the ship has been detained. The European Union also adopted and extended a ban on substandard ships and enacted a minimum ban period and a definitive ban for repeated offenses. The regulation also provided the European Union with greater authority and control over classification societies, by imposing more requirements on classification societies and providing for fines or penalty payments for organizations that failed to comply. Furthermore, the EU has implemented regulations requiring vessels to use reduced sulfur content fuel for their main and auxiliary engines. The EU Directive 2005/33/EC (amending Directive 1999/32/EC) introduced requirements parallel to those in Annex VI relating to the sulfur content of marine fuels. In addition, the EU imposed a 0.1% maximum sulfur requirement for fuel used by ships at berth in EU ports.

Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Currently, the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which entered into force in 2005 and pursuant to which adopting countries have been required to implement national programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with targets extended through 2020. International negotiations are continuing with respect to a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, and restrictions on shipping emissions may be included in any new treaty. In December 2009, more than 27 nations, including the U.S. and China, signed the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a non-binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris resulted in the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on November 4, 2016 and does not directly limit greenhouse gas emissions from ships. On June 1, 2017, the U.S. President announced that the United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The timing and effect of such action has yet to be determined, but the Paris Agreement provides for a four-year exit process.

At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, a draft outline of the structure of the initial strategy for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships was approved. In accordance with this roadmap, in April 2018, nations at the MEPC 72 adopted an initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The initial strategy identifies "levels of ambition" to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including (1) decreasing the carbon intensity from ships through implementation of further phases of the EEDI for new ships; (2) reducing carbon dioxide emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050, compared to 2008 emission levels; and (3) reducing the total annual greenhouse emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 while pursuing efforts towards phasing them out entirely. The initial strategy notes that technological innovation, alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieve the overall ambition. These regulations could cause us to incur additional substantial expenses.

The EU made a unilateral commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from its member states from 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. The EU also committed to reduce its emissions by 20% under the Kyoto Protocol's second period from 2013 to 2020. Starting in January 2018, large ships calling at EU ports are required to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information.

In the United States, the EPA issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and safety, adopted regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from certain mobile sources, and proposed regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources. However, in March 2017, the U.S. President signed an executive order to review and possibly eliminate the EPA's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA or individual U.S. states could enact environmental regulations that would affect our operations.

Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the EU, the U.S. or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level to succeed the Kyoto Protocol or Paris Agreement, that restricts emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures which we cannot predict with certainty at this time. Even in the absence of climate control legislation, our business may be indirectly affected to the extent that climate change may result in sea level changes or certain weather events.

International Labour Organization

The International Labor Organization (the "ILO") is a specialized agency of the UN that has adopted the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 ("MLC 2006"). A Maritime Labor Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance is required to ensure compliance with the MLC 2006 for all ships above 500 gross tons in international trade. All our vessels are in substantial compliance with and are certified to meet MLC 2006.

Vessel Security Regulations

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security such as the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 ("MTSA"). To implement certain portions of the MTSA, the USCG issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and at certain ports and facilities, some of which are regulated by the EPA.

Similarly, Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention imposes detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities and mandates compliance with the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code ("the ISPS Code"). The ISPS Code is designed to enhance the security of ports and ships against terrorism. To trade internationally, a vessel must attain an International Ship Security Certificate ("ISSC") from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel's flag state. Ships operating without a valid certificate may be detained, expelled from, or refused entry at port until they obtain an ISSC. The various requirements, some of which are found in the SOLAS Convention, include, for example, on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship's identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities and the vessel’s manager on shore; the development of vessel security plans; ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel's hull; a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel's history including the name of the ship, the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship's identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

The USCG regulations, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board a valid ISSC that attests to the vessel's compliance with the SOLAS Convention security requirements and the ISPS Code. Future security measures could have a significant financial impact on us. All of our vessels comply with the various security measures addressed by MTSA, the SOLAS Convention and the ISPS Code.

The cost of vessel security measures has also been affected by the escalation in the frequency of acts of piracy against ships, notably off the coast of Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea area. Substantial loss of revenue and other costs may be incurred as a result of detention of a vessel or additional security measures, and the risk of uninsured losses could significantly affect our business. Costs are incurred in taking additional security measures in accordance with Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy, notably those contained in the BMP4 industry standard.

Inspection by Classification Societies

The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and SOLAS. Most insurance underwriters make it a condition for insurance coverage and lending that a vessel be certified "in class" by a classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies, the IACS. The IACS has adopted harmonized Common Structural Rules, or the Rules, which apply to oil tankers and bulk carriers constructed on or after July 1, 2015. The Rules attempt to create a level of consistency between IACS Societies. All of our vessels are certified as being "in class" by all the applicable Classification Societies (e.g., DNV-GL, American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register of Shipping).

A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys, drydockings and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel's machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Every vessel is also required to be drydocked every 30 to 36 months for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel. If any vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, drydocking or special survey, the vessel will be unable to carry cargo between ports and will be unemployable and uninsurable which could cause us to be in violation of certain covenants in our loan agreements. Any such inability to carry cargo or be employed, or any such violation of covenants, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Customers

Our customers include national, regional and international companies. We have historically derived a significant part of our revenue from a small number of charterers. In 2018, 100% of our revenue was derived from four charterers, 55% from Stena Weco A/S, 26% from BP Shipping Limited, 15% from DS Norden A/S and 4% from Central Tanker Chartering Inc. In 2017, 100% of our revenue was derived from three charterers, 56% from Stena Weco A/S, 28% from BP Shipping Limited and 16% from DS Norden A/S. We strategically monitor developments in the tanker industry on a regular basis and, subject to market demand, seek to adjust the charter hire periods for our vessels according to prevailing market conditions.

C. Organizational Structure

We are a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices located at 1 Vasilisis Sofias and Megalou Alexandrou Str, 15124 Maroussi, Greece. We own and charter-in our vessels through wholly-owned subsidiaries that are incorporated in the Marshall Islands or other jurisdictions generally acceptable to lenders in the shipping industry. Our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 are listed in Exhibit 8.1 to this annual report on Form 20-F.

D. Property, Plants and Equipment

For a list of the vessels of our fleet, please see "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Our Fleet" above and for a description of our major encumbrances on our fleet please see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt Facilities".

We do not own any real estate property.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following presentation of management's discussion and analysis is intended to discuss our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations, and should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and their notes included in this annual report.

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 as a result of certain factors, such as those set forth in "Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this report.

A.	Operating Results

Factors Affecting our Results of Operations

We believe that the important measures for analyzing trends in the results of our operations consist of the following:

Calendar days. We define calendar days as the total number of days the vessels were in our possession for the relevant period. Calendar days are an indicator of the size of our fleet during the relevant period and affect both the amount of revenues and expenses that we record during that period.

Available days. We define available days as the number of calendar days less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to scheduled repairs, or scheduled guarantee inspections in the case of newbuildings, vessel upgrades or special or intermediate surveys and the aggregate amount of time that we spend positioning our vessels. Companies in the shipping industry generally use available days to measure the number of days in a period during which vessels should be capable of generating revenues.

Operating days. We define operating days as the number of available days in a period less the aggregate number of days that our vessels are off-hire due to unforeseen technical circumstances. The shipping industry uses operating days to measure the aggregate number of days in a period that our vessels actually generate revenues.

Fleet utilization. We calculate fleet utilization by dividing the number of operating days during a period by the number of available days during that 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 scheduled guarantee inspections in the case of newbuildings, vessel upgrades, special or intermediate surveys and vessel positioning.

Bareboat Charter Rates. Under a bareboat charter party, all operating costs, voyage costs and cargo-related costs are covered by the charterer, who takes both the operational and the shipping market risk.

TCE Revenues / TCE Rates. We define TCE revenues as revenues minus voyage expenses. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by a charterer under a time charter, as well as commissions. We believe that presenting revenues net of voyage expenses neutralizes the variability created by unique costs associated with particular voyages or the deployment of vessels on the spot market and facilitates comparisons between periods on a consistent basis. We calculate daily TCE rates by dividing TCE revenues by operating days for the relevant time period. TCE revenues include demurrage revenue, which represents fees charged to charterers associated with our spot market voyages when the charterer exceeds the agreed upon time required to load or discharge a cargo.

In the shipping industry, economic decisions are based on vessels' deployment upon anticipated TCE rates, and industry analysts typically measure shipping freight rates in terms of TCE rates. This is because under time-charter and bareboat contracts the customer usually pays the voyage expenses, while under voyage charters the ship-owner usually pays the voyage expenses, which typically are added to the hire rate at an approximate cost. Consistent with industry practice, we use TCE rates because it provides a means of comparison between different types of vessel employment and, therefore, assists our decision-making process.

In evaluating our financial condition, we focus on the below measures to assess our historical operating performance and we use future estimates of the same measures to assess our future financial performance. In assessing the future performance of our fleet, the greatest uncertainty relates to future charter rates at the expiration of a vessel's present period employment, whether under a time charter or a bareboat charter. Decisions about future purchases and sales of vessels are based on the availability of excess internal funds, the availability of financing and the financial and operational evaluation of such actions and depend on the overall state of the shipping market and the availability of relevant purchase candidates.

Time Charter Revenues

Our Time charter revenues are driven primarily by the number of vessels in our fleet, the number of operating days during which our vessels generate revenues and the amount of daily charterhire that our vessels earn under charters, which, in turn, are affected by a number of factors, including 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 dry-dock undergoing repairs, maintenance and upgrade work, the duration of the charter, the age, condition and specifications of our vessels, levels of supply and demand in the global transportation market for oil and oil products and other factors affecting spot market charter rates such as vessel supply and demand imbalances.

Vessels operating on period charters, time charters or bareboat charters provide more predictable cash flows, but can yield lower profit margins than vessels operating in the short-term, or spot, charter market during periods characterized by favorable market conditions. Vessels operating in the spot charter market, either directly or through a pool arrangement, could generate revenues that are less predictable, but could enable us to capture increased profit margins during periods of improvements in charter rates, although we could be exposed to the risk of declining charter rates, which could have a materially adverse impact on our financial performance. If we employ vessels on period charters, future spot market rates may be higher or lower than the rates at which we have employed our vessels on period time charters.

Under a time charter, the charterer typically pays us a fixed daily charter hire rate 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 CSM, one or more unaffiliated ship brokers and to in-house brokers associated with the charterer for the arrangement of the relevant charter.

Under a bareboat charter, the vessel is chartered for a stipulated period of time, which gives the charterer possession and control of the vessel, including the right to appoint the master and the crew. Under bareboat charters, all voyage and operating costs are paid by the charterer.

As of the date of this annual report, we have bareboat chartered-in two product/chemical tankers, own another ten product/chemical tankers vessels, out of which four are under construction, and we have a 50% interest in two subsidiaries that own another two product/chemical tankers. We may in the future operate vessels in the spot market until the vessels have been chartered under appropriate medium to long-term charters.

Voyage Expenses

Voyage expenses primarily consist of port charges, including canal dues, bunkers (fuel costs) and commissions. All these expenses, except commissions, are paid by the charterer under a time charter or bareboat charter contract. The amount of voyage expenses are primarily driven by the routes that the vessels travel, the amount of ports called on, the canals crossed and the price of bunker fuels paid.

Charter Hire Expenses

Charter hire expenses represent lease payments for vessels we bareboat charter-in.

On January 29, 2015 and March 31, 2015, we entered into sale and leaseback agreements for the M/T Stenaweco Energy and M/T Stenaweco Evolution, respectively, with a duration of seven years. These sale and leaseback agreements are accounted for as operating leases.

Vessel Operating Expenses

Vessel operating expenses 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 value added tax, or VAT, and other miscellaneous expenses for vessels that we own or lease under our operating leases. We analyze vessel operating expenses on a U.S. dollar per day basis. Additionally, vessel operating expenses can fluctuate due to factors beyond our control, such as unplanned repairs and maintenance attributable to damages or regulatory compliance and factors which may affect the shipping industry in general, such as developments relating to insurance premiums, or developments relating to the availability of crew.

Dry-docking Costs

Dry-docking costs relate to regularly scheduled intermediate survey or special survey dry-docking necessary to preserve the quality of our vessels as well as to comply with international shipping standards and environmental laws and regulations. Dry-docking costs can vary according to the age of the vessel, the location where the dry-dock takes place, shipyard availability, local availability of manpower and material, and the billing currency of the yard. Please see "Item 18. Financial Statements—Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies." In the case of tankers, dry-docking costs may also be affected by new rules and regulations. For further information please see "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental Regulations."

Management Fees—Related Parties

As from March 31, 2014, we have outsourced to CSM all operational, technical and commercial functions relating to the chartering and operation of our vessels. We outsourced the above functions pursuant to a letter agreement between CSM and TOP Ships Inc. and management agreements between CSM and our then vessel-owning subsidiaries on March 10, 2014, and each new vessel that entered our fleet after that date entered into a management agreement with CSM. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Central Shipping Monaco Letter Agreement, Management Agreements, and Other Agreements" and "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Central Mare Letter Agreement, Management Agreements, and Other Agreements."

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses include executive compensation paid to Central Mare for the compensation of our executive officers and a number of administrative staff, office rent, legal and auditing costs, regulatory compliance costs, other miscellaneous office expenses, non-cash stock compensation, and corporate overhead. Central Mare provides the services of the individuals who serve in the position of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer as well as a number of administrative employees. For further information please see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Central Mare Letter Agreement, Management Agreements, and Other Agreements" and "Item 18. Financial Statements—Note 5—Transactions with Related Parties."

A portion of our general and administrative expenses are denominated in Euros and are therefore affected by the conversion rate of the U.S. dollar versus the Euro.

Interest and Finance Costs

We incur interest expense on outstanding indebtedness under our loans and credit facilities, which we include in interest and finance costs. We also incur finance costs in establishing those debt facilities which are deferred and amortized over the period of the respective facility. The amortization of the finance costs is presented in interest and finance costs.

Inflation

Inflation has not had a material effect on our expenses. In the event that significant global inflationary pressures appear, these pressures would increase our operating, voyage, administrative and financing costs.

Lack of Historical Operating Data for Vessels before Their Acquisition

Although vessels are generally acquired free of charter, we have acquired (and may in the future acquire) some vessels with time charters. Where a vessel has been under a voyage charter, the vessel is usually delivered to the buyer free of charter. It is rare in the shipping industry for the last charterer of the vessel in the hands of the seller to continue as the first charterer of the vessel in the hands of the buyer. In most cases, when a vessel is under time charter and the buyer wishes to assume that charter, the vessel cannot be acquired without the charterer's consent and the buyer entering into a separate direct agreement, or a novation agreement, with the charterer to assume the charter. The purchase of a vessel itself does not transfer the charter because it is a separate agreement between the vessel owner and the charterer.

Where we identify any intangible assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition of a vessel, we allocate the purchase price to identified tangible and intangible assets or liabilities based on their relative fair values. Fair value is determined by reference to market data and the discounted amount of expected future cash flows. Where we have assumed an existing charter obligation or entered into a time charter with the existing charterer in connection with the purchase of a vessel at charter rates that are less than market charter rates, we record a liability, based on the difference between the assumed charter rate and the market charter rate for an equivalent vessel. Conversely, where we assume an existing charter obligation or enter into a time charter with the existing charterer in connection with the purchase of a vessel at charter rates that are above market charter rates, we record an asset, based on the difference between the market charter rate for an equivalent vessel and the contracted charter rate. This determination is made at the time the vessel is delivered to us, and such assets and liabilities are amortized as a reduction or increase to revenue over the remaining period of the charter.

None of the vessels acquired from 2016 up to 2018 gave rise to a recognition of any intangible asset or liability associated with those acquisitions.

When we purchase a vessel and assume or renegotiate a related time charter, we must take the following steps before the vessel will be ready to commence operations:

obtain the charterer's consent to us as the new owner;

obtain the charterer's consent to a new technical manager;

in some cases, obtain the charterer's consent to a new flag for the vessel;

arrange for a new crew for the vessel, and where the vessel is on charter, in some cases, the crew must be approved by the charterer;

replace all hired equipment on board, such as gas cylinders and communication equipment;

negotiate and enter into new insurance contracts for the vessel through our own insurance brokers; and

register the vessel under a flag state and perform the related inspections in order to obtain new trading certificates from the flag state.

The following discussion is intended to help you understand how acquisitions of vessels affect our business and results of operations. Our business is comprised of the following main elements:

employment and operation of tankers; and

management of the financial, general and administrative elements involved in the conduct of our business and ownership of tankers.

The employment and operation of our vessels require the following main components:

vessel maintenance and repair;

crew selection and training;

vessel spares and stores supply;

contingency response planning;

onboard safety procedures auditing;

accounting;

vessel insurance arrangement;

vessel chartering;

vessel security training and security response plans (ISPS);

obtain ISM certification and audit for each vessel within the six months of taking over a vessel;

vessel hire management;

vessel surveying; and

vessel performance monitoring.

The management of financial, general and administrative elements involved in the conduct of our business and ownership of our vessels requires the following main components:

management of our financial resources, including banking relationships, i.e., administration of bank loans and bank accounts;

management of our accounting system and records and financial reporting;

administration of the legal and regulatory requirements affecting our business and assets; and

management of the relationships with our service providers and customers.

The principal factors that affect our profitability, cash flows and shareholders' return on investment include:

charter rates and periods of charter hire for our tankers;

utilization of our tankers (earnings efficiency);

levels of our tanker's operating expenses and dry-docking costs;

depreciation and amortization expenses;

financing costs; and

fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2017 AND 2018

The following table depicts changes in the results of operations for 2018 compared to 2017 and 2017 compared to 2016.

	Year Ended December 31,									Change
										YE17 v YE16					YE18 v YE17
	2016			2017			2018			$			%		$			%
	($ in thousands)
Time charter revenues		28,433			39,363			39,442			10,930		38.4	%		79		0.2	%
Time charter revenue from related parties		-			-			1,606			-		-	%		1,606		100	%
Total time charter revenues		28,433			39,363			41,048			10,930		38.4	%		1,685		4.3	%
Voyage expenses		736			999			1,020			263		35.7	%		21		2.1	%
Bareboat charter hire expenses		6,299			6,282			6,282			(17	)	-0.3	%		-		0.0	%
Amortization of prepaid bareboat charter hire		1,577			1,657			1,657			80		5.1	%		-		0.0	%
Vessel operating expenses		9,913			13,444			14,826			3,531		35.6	%		1,382		10.3	%
Vessel depreciation		3,467			5,744			6,390			2,277		65.7	%		646		11.2	%
Management fees-related parties		1,824			4,730			7,765			2,906		159.3	%		3,035		64.2	%
Other operating (income) / loss		(3,137	)		(914	)		-			2,223		-70.9	%		914		-100	%
General and administrative expenses		2,906			5,805			6,997			2,899		99.8	%		1,192		20.5	%
Expenses		23,585			37,747			44,937			14,162		60.0	%		7,190		19.0	%
Operating income / (loss)		4,848			1,616			(3,889	)		(3,232	)	-66.7	%		(5,505	)	-340.7	%
Interest and finance costs		(3,093	)		(15,793	)		(9,662	)		(12,700	)	410.6	%		6,131		-38.8	%
(Loss)/Gain on derivative financial instruments		(698	)		(301	)		1,821			397		-56.9	%		2,122		-705	%
Interest income		-			13			130			13		-			117		900	%
Other, net		(5	)		1,120			180			1,125		-22,500.0	%		(940	)	-83.9	%
Total other (expenses) / income, net		(3,796	)		(14,961	)		(7,531	)		(11,165	)	294.1	%		7,430		-49.7	%
Net income/(loss)		1,052			(13,345	)		(11,420	)		(14,397	)	-1368.5	%		1,925		-14.4	%

The table below presents the key measures for each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Please see "Item 3. Key Information—A. Selected Financial Data" for a reconciliation of Average Daily TCE to revenues.

Year on Year Comparison of Operating Results

Revenues

Time Charter Revenues

2017 vs. 2016

During the year ended December 31, 2017, time charter revenues increased by $10.9 million, or 38%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. This increase was due to the acquisition of M/T Stenaweco Elegance in February 2017 that led to its employment for ten months resulting in an increase in time charter revenue of $5.0 million, the employment of M/T Nord Valiant for twelve months in 2017 as opposed to four and a half months in 2016 that resulted in an increase in time charter revenue of $3.8 million (the vessel started its employment on August 15, 2016), the employment of M/T Stenaweco Excellence for twelve months in 2017 as opposed to seven months in 2016 that resulted in an increase in time charter revenue of $2.3 million (the vessel started its employment on May 23, 2016) and the employment of M/T Eco Revolution for 12 months in 2017 as opposed to eleven months in 2016 that resulted in an increase in time charter revenue of $0.4 million (the vessel started its employment on January 26, 2016).

These increases were offset by the lower daily charter rates that we negotiated for M/T Stenaweco Energy and M/T Stenaweco Evolution in order to increase their charter duration by twelve and eighteen months respectively that resulted in a decrease of time charter revenue by $0.2 million and $0.4 million respectively.

Time charter revenues from related parties

2018 vs. 2017

During the year ended December 31, 2018, time charter revenues from related parties increased by $1.6 million, or 100%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. This increase was due to the delivery of M/T Eco Palm Desert in September 2018 that led to its employment with Central Tankers Chart