GENCO SHIPPING & TRADING LTD (GNK) Business

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

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OVERVIEW

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General

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We are a New York City-based pure-play drybulk ship owning company focused on the seaborne transportation of commodities globally.  We transport key cargoes such as iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite, steel products and other drybulk cargoes along worldwide shipping routes.  After the expected delivery of two Newcastlemax vessels during March 2026 that we have agreed to acquire, our fleet will consist of 45 drybulk vessels, including two Newcastlemax and 17 Capesize vessels and 15 Ultramax and 11 Supramax vessels with an aggregate carrying capacity of approximately 5,044,000 deadweight tons (“dwt”) and an average age of 12.7 years.

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See page 5 for a table of our current fleet.

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Our approach towards fleet composition is to own a high-quality fleet of vessels that focuses on Newcastlemax, Capesize, Ultramax and Supramax vessels. Newcastlemax and Capesize vessels represent our major bulk vessel category, while Ultramax and Supramax vessels represent our minor bulk vessel category. Our major bulk vessels are primarily used to transport iron ore, coal and bauxite, while our minor bulk vessels are primarily used to transport grains, steel products and other drybulk cargoes such as cement, scrap, fertilizer, nickel ore, salt and sugar. This approach of owning ships that transport both major and minor bulk commodities provide us with exposure to a wide range of drybulk trade flows.

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We employ an active commercial strategy which consists of a global team located in the U.S., Denmark and Singapore. Overall, we utilize a portfolio approach to revenue generation through a combination of short-term, spot market employment, index-linked time charters as well as opportunistically booking longer-term fixed-rate coverage or contracts of affreightment depending on market conditions and management’s outlook. Our fleet deployment strategy currently is weighted towards short-term fixtures, which provides us with optionality on our sizeable fleet.

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Our approach to capital allocation focuses on three key factors:

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Since 2021, we have executed this strategy by reducing our debt by $249.2 million cumulatively through December 31, 2025 while expanding our core Capesize and Ultramax fleet. This has resulted in a debt balance of $200 million as of December 31, 2025, a 55% reduction from January 1, 2021 levels. These actions have enabled us to further reduce our cash flow breakeven rate positioning us to pay sizeable quarterly dividends across diverse market environments.

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In addition to the $55.5 million of cash on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2025, we have undrawn revolver availability of $400 million, bringing our current total liquidity to $455.5 million.

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On July 10, 2025, we entered into a fifth amendment to amend, extend and upsize our existing $500 Million Revolver. The amended structure consists of a $600 million revolving credit facility (the “$600 Million Revolver”) which can be utilized to support growth of our asset base, as well as general corporate purposes. The maturity date was extended from November 29, 2028 to July 10, 2030.

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Including the $0.50 dividend for the fourth quarter of 2025, we have declared 26 consecutive quarterly dividends, which total $7.565 per share.

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Our Operations

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Our major and minor bulk vessels have similar economic characteristics as they serve the same type of customers, have similar operations and maintenance requirements, operate in the same regulatory environment, and are subject to similar economic characteristics. Therefore, we have determined that each of our vessels are individual operating segments. We believe it is meaningful and informative to aggregate our operating segments into two reportable segments for the major bulk and minor bulk fleet.

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Our management team and key employees are responsible for the commercial and strategic management of our fleet. Commercial management includes the negotiation of charters for vessels, managing the mix of various types of charters, such as time charters, spot market voyage charters and spot market-related time charters, and monitoring the performance of our vessels under their charters. Strategic management includes locating, purchasing, financing and selling vessels. Technical management involves the day-to-day management of vessels, including performing routine maintenance, attending to vessel operations and arranging for crews and supplies. Our technical management joint venture, GS Shipmanagement Pte. Ltd (“GSSM”), currently provides the technical management to the vessels in our fleet and members of our New York City-based management team oversee their activities.

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AVAILABLE INFORMATION

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We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the SEC, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act.  The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.  The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

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In addition, our company website can be found on the Internet at www.gencoshipping.com.  The website contains information about us and our operations.  Copies of each of our filings with the SEC on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, can be viewed and downloaded free of charge after the reports and amendments are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.  To view the reports, access www.gencoshipping.com, click on Investor, then SEC Filings.  No information on our company website is incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K.

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Any of the above documents can also be obtained in print by any shareholder upon request to our Investor Relations Department at the following address:

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Corporate Investor Relations

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited

299 Park Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10171

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BUSINESS STRATEGY

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Our strategy is to manage and expand our fleet in a manner that maximizes our cash flows from operations in a safe and efficient manner. To accomplish this objective, we intend to:

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OUR FLEET

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The table below summarizes the characteristics of the vessels currently in our fleet:

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The following groups of sister ships are included in our current fleet:

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FLEET MANAGEMENT

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Our management team and other employees are responsible for the commercial and strategic management of our fleet.  Commercial management involves negotiating charters for vessels, managing the mix of various types of charters, such as time charters, spot market voyage charters, vessel pools and spot market-related time charters, and monitoring the performance of our vessels under their charters. Strategic management involves locating, purchasing, financing and selling vessels.

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Technical management involves the day-to-day management of vessels, including performing routine maintenance, attending to vessel operations and arranging for crews and supplies.  Members of our New York City-based management team oversee the activities of GSSM.  The head of our technical management team has over 45 years of experience in the shipping industry.

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Under our technical management agreement with GSSM, GSSM is obligated to:

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OUR CHARTERS

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As of February 17, 2026, we fixed 21 of our vessels on spot market voyage charters where we provide a vessel for the transportation of goods between a load port and discharge port at a specified per-ton or on a lump sum basis. Under spot market voyage charters, voyage expenses such as fuel and port charges, are borne by us. Additionally, as of February 17, 2026, we have fixed 18 of our vessels under fixed-rate time charters and four of our vessels under spot

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market-related time charters.  A time charter involves the hiring of a vessel from its owner for a period of time pursuant to a contract under which the vessel owner places its ship (including its crew and equipment) at the disposal of the charterer.  Under a time charter, the charterer periodically pays a fixed daily charterhire rate to the owner of the vessel and bears all voyage expenses, including the cost of bunkers (fuel), port expenses, agents’ fees and canal dues. Additionally, as of February 17, 2026, we were chartering in ten third party vessels that have been employed on spot market voyage charters, all of which are short duration.

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Our vessels operate worldwide within the trading limits imposed by our insurance terms.  The technical operation and navigation of the vessel at all times remains the responsibility of the vessel owner, which is generally responsible for the vessel’s operating expenses, including the cost of crewing, insuring, repairing and maintaining the vessel, costs of spares and consumable stores, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses.

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For the vessels that we employ on time charters or spot market-related time charters, agreements expire within a range of dates (for example, a minimum of 4 months and maximum of 6 months following delivery), with the exact end of the time charter left unspecified to account for the uncertainty of when a vessel will complete its final voyage under the time charter.  The charterer may extend the charter period by any time that the vessel is off-hire.  If a vessel remains off-hire for more than 30 consecutive days, the time charter may be cancelled at the charterer’s option.

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In connection with the charter of each of our vessels, we incur commissions generally ranging from 1.25% to 5.00% of the total daily charterhire rate of each charter or total freight revenue to third parties, depending on the number of brokers involved with arranging the relevant charter.

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We monitor developments in the drybulk shipping industry on a regular basis and strategically adjust the time and duration of employment for our vessels according to market conditions as they become available for hire.

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The following table sets forth information about the current employment of the vessels in our fleet as of February 17, 2026:

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CLASSIFICATION AND INSPECTION

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All of our vessels have been certified as being “in class” by the American Bureau of Shipping (“ABS”), DNVGL or Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (“Lloyd’s”).  Each of these classification societies is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies.  Every commercial vessel’s hull and machinery is evaluated by a classification society authorized by its country of registry.  The classification society certifies that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the vessel’s country of registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member.  Each vessel is inspected by a surveyor of the classification society in three surveys of varying frequency and thoroughness: every year for the annual survey, every two to three years for the intermediate survey and every four to five years for special surveys.  Special surveys always require drydocking.  Vessels that are 15 years old or older are required, as part of the intermediate survey process, to be drydocked every 24 to 36 months for inspection of the underwater portions of the vessel and for necessary repairs stemming from the inspection.

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In addition to the classification society inspections, many of our customers regularly inspect our vessels as a precondition to chartering them for voyages.  We believe that our well-maintained, high-quality vessels provide us with a competitive advantage in the current environment of increasing regulation and customer emphasis on quality.

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We have implemented the International Safety Management Code, which was promulgated by the International Maritime Organization, or IMO (the United Nations agency for maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution by ships), to establish pollution prevention requirements applicable to vessels.  We obtained documents of compliance and safety management certificates for all of our vessels, which are required by the IMO.

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CREWING AND EMPLOYEES

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Each of our vessels is crewed with 21 to 23 officers and seafarers.  We do not provide any seaborne personnel to crew our vessels. Instead, GSSM is responsible for recruiting and retaining qualified and competent crew members for our vessels.  The crewing agencies are responsible for each seafarer’s training, travel and payroll and ensuring that all the seafarers on our vessels have the correct qualifications and licenses required to comply with international regulations and shipping conventions.  Our vessels are typically manned with more crew members than are required by the country of the vessel’s flag in order to allow for the performance of routine maintenance duties.

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We currently employ 36 shore-based personnel, which includes personnel in our Singapore and Copenhagen offices. In addition, approximately 945 seagoing personnel are employed on our vessels. Lastly, GSSM currently employs approximately 75 personnel.

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CUSTOMERS

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Our assessment of a charterer’s financial condition and reliability is an important factor in negotiating employment for our vessels.  We generally charter our vessels to major trading houses (including commodities traders), major producers and government-owned entities rather than to more speculative or undercapitalized entities.  Our customers include national, regional and international companies, such as ST Shipping & Transport Pte. Ltd., Rio Tinto Shipping (Asia) Pte. Ltd., Oldendorff Carriers, including its subsidiaries, Cargill International S.A., Bunge SA, ADMIntermare, a division of ADM International Sarl, Vale International S.A., BHP Billiton Ltd. and Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. For the year ended December 31, 2025, one customer individually accounted for more than 10% of our voyage revenue. Oldendorff Carriers, including its subsidiaries, represented 11.0% of voyage revenues.

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COMPETITION

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Our business fluctuates based on the supply and demand of drybulk cargoes and their respective trading patterns as well as the overall capacity of the global drybulk fleet. We operate in competitive markets as the ownership of drybulk carriers is highly fragmented and is divided among approximately 2,960 independent drybulk carrier owners. We compete with other drybulk owners in the major and minor bulk sectors, some of whom may also charter our vessels as customers. We compete for charters on the basis of price, vessel location and size, age and condition of the vessel, as well as on our reputation as an owner and operator.

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PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS

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We are required by various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain certain permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations with respect to our vessels.  The kinds of permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations required for each vessel depend upon several factors, including the commodity transported, the waters in which the vessel operates, the nationality of the vessel’s crew and the age of the vessel.  We believe that we have all material permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations.  However, additional laws and regulations, environmental or otherwise, may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our doing business.

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INSURANCE

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General

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The operation of any drybulk vessel includes risks such as mechanical failure, collision, property loss, cargo loss or damage and business interruption due to political circumstances in foreign countries, piracy, 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.  The United States (“U.S.”) Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, which imposes virtually unlimited liability upon owners, operators and demise charterers of vessels trading in the U.S.-exclusive economic zone for certain oil pollution accidents in the United States, has made liability insurance more expensive for ship owners and operators trading in the U.S. market.

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While we maintain hull and machinery insurance, war risks insurance, protection and indemnity cover, and freight, demurrage and defense cover for our fleet and loss of hire insurance for our major bulk vessels 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.  Furthermore, while we believe that our present insurance coverage is adequate, not all risks can be insured, and there can be no guarantee that any specific claim will be paid, or that we will always be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates. Additionally, an increase in cost, or unavailability, of insurance for our vessels could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Hull and Machinery, War Risks, Kidnap and Ransom Insurance

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We maintain marine hull and machinery, war risks and kidnap and ransom insurance, which cover the risk of actual or constructive total loss for all our vessels.  Our vessels are each covered up to at least fair market value with deductibles, which depend primarily on the class of the insured vessel and are subject to change.  We are covered, subject to limitations in our policy, to have the crew released in the case of kidnapping due to piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea. Currently, we have no ships in the southern Red Sea or Gulf of Aden region. Furthermore, given the recent attacks on commercial vessels, we do not currently intend to transit these regions; however, we will continue to monitor events.

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Protection and Indemnity Insurance

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Protection and indemnity insurance is provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations, or P&I Associations, which insure our third-party liabilities in connection with our shipping activities.  This includes third-party liability and other related expenses resulting from the injury or death of crew, passengers and other third-parties, the 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 P&I Associations, or “Clubs.” Subject to the “capping” discussed below, our coverage, except for pollution, is unlimited.

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We maintain protection and indemnity insurance coverage for pollution of $1 billion per vessel per incident.  The 12 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 $10 million up to, currently, approximately $8.9 billion. We are a member of two P&I Associations, both members of the International Group. As a result, we are subject to calls payable to the Associations based on the Group’s claim records as well as the claim records of all other members of the individual P&I Associations and members of the pool of Associations comprising the International Group.

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Loss of Hire Insurance

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We maintain loss of hire insurance for our Capesize vessels, which covers business interruptions and related losses that result from the loss of use of a vessel.  Our loss of hire insurance has a 14-day deductible and provides claim coverage for up to 60 days.

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Cyber Liability Insurance

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We maintain cyber liability insurance against financial losses resulting from data breaches and cyberattacks. Our cyber liability insurance policy encompasses various expenses associated with cybersecurity incidents, including first-party coverages such as legal fees, restoration of affected personal identities, recovery of compromised data, the cost of repairing damage to compromised computer systems, financial expenses related to notifying customers of potential data breaches, post-breach reputational harm repair, and public relations efforts. Additionally, third-party coverages include errors and omissions, such as failure to safeguard data or defamation, along with investigative expenses.

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ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER REGULATIONS

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, procurement of specialized fuels 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 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 our ability to comply and 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.

We aim to meet and, if possible and appropriate for our business, exceed minimum compliance levels set forth in rules and regulations governing the maritime industry, including certain rules and regulations described below.

We have taken various steps to reduce our energy consumption and improve fuel efficiency, including through investments made to our fleet. Specifically, we have:

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International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by vessels (the “IMO”), has adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, collectively referred to as MARPOL 73/78 and herein as “MARPOL,” the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974 (“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, container, 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.

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. We may need to make certain financial expenditures to comply with these amendments, which could be significant.

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 and other 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. In October of 2016, MEPC 70 agreed to implement a global 0.5% sulfur content limit (reduced from 3.50%) in marine fuel 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. Ships are now required to obtain bunker delivery notes that specify fuel sulfur content. Additionally, at MEPC 73, amendments to Annex VI to prohibit the carriage of bunkers above 0.5% sulfur content on ships were adopted and took effect March 1, 2020, with the exception of vessels fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems (“scrubbers”) which can carry fuel of higher sulfur content. These regulations subject ocean-going vessels to stringent emissions controls, and may cause us to incur substantial costs, including those related to the purchase, installation and operation of scrubbers and the purchase of compliant fuel oil.

Sulfur content standards are even stricter within certain “Emission Control Areas,” or (“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%. Currently, the IMO has designated five ECAs, including specified portions of the Baltic Sea area, Mediterranean Sea area, North Sea area, North American area and United States Caribbean Sea area. Ocean-going vessels in these areas will be subject to stringent emission controls that may cause us to incur additional costs. Certain ports in which our vessels call,

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including in China and Singapore, are currently or may become subject to local regulations that impose stricter emission controls. In July 2023, MEPC 80 announced three new ECA proposals, including the Canadian Arctic Waters and the Norwegian Sea, which should take effect in March 2027. MEPC 83 also approved the North-East Atlantic Ocean as an ECA, which is expected to take effect in 2028. If other ECAs are approved by the IMO, or other new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines by vessels are adopted by regional, national or local regulatory bodies covering areas where we operate, including by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations. Refer to “Capital Expenditures” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and “We are subject to regulation and liability under environmental and operational safety laws that could require significant expenditures or subject us to increased liability” in Item 1A. Risk Factors for further details of our plan for compliance and potential costs. We have installed and will be installing scrubbers on all of our Capesize vessels to mitigate sulfur dioxide emissions to the air from engine exhaust down to 0.1% fuel sulfur content equivalent.

Amended Annex VI of MARPOL also establishes stringent nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) emission standards for marine diesel engines, categorized as Tiers I, II and III, based on a vessel’s construction date and operating area. Tier III NOx standards currently apply to ships operating in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea ECAs (for engines installed on or after January 1, 2016) and the North Sea and Baltic Sea ECAs (for engines installed on or after January 1, 2021). The Canadian-Arctic Waters ECA’s Tier III NOx requirements will be effective March 1, 2026, for ships built on or after January 1, 2025. For the Norwegian Sea ECA, the NOx Tier III engine certification requirement will apply to ships (i) with building contracts placed on or after March 1, 2026, (ii) in the absence of a building contract, constructed on or after September 1, 2026, or (iii) delivered on or after March 1, 2030. For the North-East Atlantic Ocean ECA, a similar certification requirement is expected to apply to ships (i) contracted on or after January 1, 2027, (ii) in the absence of a building contract, constructed on or after July 1, 2027, or (iii) delivered on or after January 1, 2031. MEPC 83 also adopted amendments (expected to enter into force September 2026 and March 2027) to the NOx Technical Code 2008, which allows for the use of multiple engine operational profiles for certifying engines and introduces clearer procedures for re-certifying engines that are modified or upgraded. The EPA promulgated equivalent (and in some senses stricter) emissions standards in 2010. We are compliant with the NOx emissions requirements under the EPA standards and MARPOL Annex VI requirements. While we do not currently own vessels subject to MARPOL Annex VI Tier III NOx requirements, future acquisitions or additional ECA designations may require us to incur increased capital expenditures or operating costs.

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 having commenced on January 1, 2019. The IMO used such data as the first step in its initial roadmap (through 2023) for developing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as discussed further below. MEPC 83 approved draft amendments to make the IMO’s data collection system more accessible to the public through an anonymized database.

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 (“SEEMP”), 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.

Additionally, in 2022, MEPC 75 amended Annex VI of MARPOL to impose new regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. These amendments introduce requirements to assess and measure the energy efficiency of all ships and set the required attainment values, with the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping. The requirements include (1) a technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (“EEXI”), and (2) operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (“CII”). The attained EEXI is required to be calculated for ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. With respect to the CII, ships of 5,000 gross tonnage must document and verify their actual annual operational CII achieved against a determined required annual operational CII and must include certain mandatory content regarding the ship’s operational carbon intensity plan in the SEEMP. MEPC 75 also amended

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MARPOL Annex I to prohibit the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil (“HFO”) by ships in Arctic waters on and after July 1, 2024.

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In 2021, MEPC 77 adopted a non-binding resolution which urges Member States and ship operators to voluntarily use distillate or other cleaner alternative fuels or methods of propulsion that are safe for ships and could contribute to the reduction of Black Carbon emissions from ships when operating in or near the Arctic. MEPC 79 adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix IX to include the attained and required CII values, the CII rating and attained EEXI for existing ships in the required information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database. The amendments entered into force on May 1, 2024. In July 2023, MEPC 80 approved the plan for reviewing CII regulations and guidelines, and in April 2025, MEPC 83 adopted amendments to 2021 Guidelines on operational carbon intensity reduction factors, which outline methods for determining CII reduction factors from 2023 and now includes newly defined reduction factors from 2027 through 2030.

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MEPC 83 also approved a work plan on the development of a regulatory framework for the use of onboard carbon capture and storage systems, which will capture carbon produced by a ship before it is emitted into the air.

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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. Genco plans to continue to invest in its existing fleet to improve fuel efficiency and comply with these revised standards.

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Safety Management System Requirements

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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.

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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. GSSM has valid 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”).

Amendments to the SOLAS Convention Chapter VII apply to vessels transporting dangerous goods and require those vessels be in compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (“IMDG Code”). Effective

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January 1, 2018, the IMDG Code includes (1) updates to the provisions for radioactive material, reflecting the latest provisions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, (2) new marking, packing and classification requirements for dangerous goods, and (3) new mandatory training requirements. Amendments that took effect on January 1, 2020, also reflect the latest material from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, including (1) new provisions regarding IMO type 9 tank, (2) new abbreviations for segregation groups, and (3) special provisions for carriage of lithium batteries and of vehicles powered by flammable liquid or gas. Additional amendments, which came into force on June 1, 2022, include (1) addition of a definition of dosage rate, (2) additions to the list of high consequence dangerous goods, (3) new provisions for medical/clinical waste, (4) addition of various ISO standards for gas cylinders, (5) a new handling code, and (6) changes to stowage and segregation provisions. The newest edition of the IMDG Code took effect on January 1, 2024, although the changes are largely incremental.

In June 2022, SOLAS also set out new amendments that took effect on January 1, 2024, which include new requirements for; (1) the design for safe mooring operations, (2) the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (“GMDSS”), (3) watertight integrity, (4) watertight doors on cargo ships, (5) fault-isolation of fire detection systems, (6) life-saving appliances, and (7) safety of ships using LNG as fuel. These new requirements may impact the cost of our operations.

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, cybersecurity guidance and regulations have been developed in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. For new ships and offshore installations contracted for construction on or after January 1, 2024, the International Association of Classification Societies (“IACS”) now requires vessel owners, yard and suppliers to build cybersecurity barriers into their systems and vessels, requiring compliance across the full spectrum of critical on-board control and navigation systems. On July 16, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard’s final rule, Cybersecurity in the Martine Transportation System, went into effect. Under this rule, all regulated entities are required to develop Cybersecurity and Cyber Incident Response Plans, designate a Cybersecurity Officer to implement plans, and to report certain cyber incidents to the National Response Center. This might cause companies to create additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures.

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 8, 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.

The MEPC maintains guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8). 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,

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and compliance dates vary depending on the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal dates. The standards have been in force since 2019, and, for most ships, compliance with the D-2 standard involved installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ballast water management systems, which include systems that make use of chemicals, 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). Since September 8, 2024, all ships have been required to meet the D-2 standard. Costs of compliance with these regulations may be substantial. Additionally, in November 2020, MEPC 75 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention which would require a commissioning test of the ballast water management system for the initial survey or when performing an additional survey for retrofits. This analysis will not apply to ships that already have an installed BWM system certified under the BWM Convention. These amendments entered into force on June 1, 2022. In December 2022, MEPC 79 agreed that it should be permitted to use ballast tanks for temporary storage of treated sewage and grey water. MEPC 79 also established that ships are expected to return to D-2 compliance after experiencing challenging uptake water quality and bypassing a BWM system should only be used as a last resort. In July 2023, MEPC 80 approved a plan for a comprehensive review of the BWM Convention over the next three years and the corresponding development of a package of amendments to the Convention. MEPC 80 also adopted further amendments relating to Appendix II of the BWM Convention concerning the form of the Ballast Water Record Book, which entered into force in February 2025. A protocol for ballast water compliance monitoring devices and unified interpretation of the form of the BWM Convention certificate were also adopted. In March 2024, MEPC 81 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention concerning the use of Ballast Water Record Books in electronic form, which entered into force in October 2025. Pursuant to the ongoing review, in Fall 2024, MEPC 82 approved the 2024 Guidance on ballast water record keeping and reporting and the 2024 Guidance for Administrations on the type of approval process for ballast water management systems to support harmonized evaluation by Administrations.

In addition to the BWM Convention, 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. The system specification requirements for trading in the U.S. have been formalized and we have been installing ballast water treatment systems on our vessels as their special survey deadlines come due.

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.

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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.

Anti-Fouling Requirements

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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. The exteriors of vessels constructed prior to January 1, 2003 that have not been in drydock must, as of September 17, 2008, either not contain the prohibited compounds or have coatings applied to the vessel exterior that act as a barrier to the leaching of the prohibited compounds.  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, or the “IAFS Certificate,” is issued for the first time; and subsequent surveys when the anti-fouling systems are altered or replaced.

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In November 2020, MEPC 75 approved draft amendments to the Anti-fouling Convention to prohibit anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne, which would apply to ships from January 1, 2023, or, for ships already bearing such an anti-fouling system, at the next scheduled renewal of the system after that date, but no later than 60 months following the last application to the ship of such a system. In addition, the IAFS Certificate has been updated to address compliance options for anti-fouling systems to address cybutryne. Ships which are affected by this ban on cybutryne must receive an updated IAFS Certificate no later than two years after the entry into force of these amendments. Ships which are not affected (i.e. with anti-fouling systems which do not contain cybutryne) must receive an updated IAFS Certificate at the next Anti-fouling application to the vessel. These amendments were formally adopted at MEPC 76 in June 2021, and entered into force on January 1, 2023.

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We have obtained Anti-fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti-fouling Convention.

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Building on the focus of preventing the spread of invasive species, the IMO has recently pivoted from voluntary guidance to the development of a mandatory regulatory framework for biofouling management. At MEPC 83 in April 2025, the Committee formally agreed to develop a legally binding instrument for the control and management of ships’ biofouling. This decision reflects a shift to elevate biofouling management, currently governed by the voluntary 2023 Biofouling Guidelines (Resolution MEPC.378(80)), to the same enforceable status as ballast water management. The development process is structured around a multi-year work plan, with technical drafting expected to begin at the PPR 13 sub-committee meeting in 2026. While the exact legal form is still under deliberation, the IMO aims for the final instrument to be adopted by 2029, with a likely entry into force around 2031 or 2032, depending on the speed of the subsequent ratification process. We are monitoring these developments to determine the potential impact to our operations.

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Additionally, Brazil will begin enforcing biofouling regulations from February 2026 designed to minimize the risk of ships introducing invasive aquatic species, requiring vessels to arrive with a “clean hull” or risk Port State Control (“PSC”) fines, detention, or denial of port entry. Brazil’s biofouling regulations are aligned with the IMO’s 2023 Biofouling Guidelines and similar to existing requirements in Australia and New Zealand. Biosecurity concerns coupled with growing safety and environmental restrictions on underwater hull and propeller cleaning point toward an emerging area of regulatory and operational complexity and underscore the importance of proactive antifouling strategies.

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 prohibit vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code 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

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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:

OPA contains statutory caps on liability and damages; such caps do not apply to direct cleanup costs. On December 23, 2022, the USCG issued a final rule to adjust the limitation of liability under the OPA. Effective March 23, 2023, the new adjusted limits of OPA liability for non-tank vessels, edible oil tank vessels, and any oil spill response vessels, to the greater of $1,300 per gross ton or $1,076,000 (subject to periodic adjustment for inflation) (previous limit was $1,200 per gross ton or $997,100).

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 as required by law 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

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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. We comply and plan to comply going forward with the USCG’s financial responsibility regulations by providing applicable certificates of financial responsibility.

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. Some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for oil spills, and 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 intend to comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where our vessels call.

While we do not carry oil as cargo, we do carry fuel and lube oil in our drybulk carriers. 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 a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, cash flows, and ability to pay dividends.

Other United States Environmental Regulations

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. The CAA requires states to adopt State Implementation Plans, or SIPs, some of which regulate emissions resulting from vessel loading and unloading operations which may affect our vessels.

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.

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 replaces the 2013 Vessel General Permit (“VGP”) program and current Coast Guard ballast water management regulations adopted under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act. VIDA establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges under Clean Water Act (the 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.  In October 2024, the EPA finalized its rule on Vessel Incidental Discharge Standards of Performance, which means that the USCG must now develop corresponding regulations regarding ballast water within two years of that date.

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Under VIDA, all provisions of the 2013 VGP and USCG regulations regarding ballast water treatment remain in force and effect until the EPA and USCG 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 our vessels where required. Compliance with the EPA, USCG and state regulations could require the installation or upgrading of ballast water treatment equipment on our vessels or the implementation of other port facility disposal procedures at potentially substantial cost, or may otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters.

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, 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 regulations 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 content requirement for fuel used by ships at berth in the Baltic, the North Sea and the English Channel (the so-called “SOx-Emission Control Area”). As of January 2020, EU member states must also ensure that ships in all EU waters, except the SOx-Emission Control Area, use fuels with a 0.5% maximum sulfur content.

On September 15, 2020, the European Parliament voted to include greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector in the European Union’s carbon market, the EU Emissions Trading System (“EU ETS”) as part of its “Fit-for-55” legislation to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels. This will require shipowners to buy allowances to cover these emissions. On December 18, 2022, the European Council and European Parliament agreed on a gradual introduction of obligations for shipping companies to surrender allowances equivalent to a portion of their verified carbon emissions: 40% for 2024, 70% for 2025 and 100% for 2026 and subsequent years. Furthermore, starting from January 1, 2026, the ETS regulations include monitoring for nitrous oxide and methane.

The FuelEU Maritime regulation, an instrument in the EU’s "Fit-for-55" legislation, entered into force on January 1, 2025. FuelEU Maritime sets requirements on the annual average greenhouse gas (GHG) equivalent intensity of energy used by ships trading into, out of and within the EU or European Economic Area (EEA). This intensity is measured as GHG equivalent emissions per energy unit (gCO2e/MJ) with GHG emissions calculated employing a well-to-wake approach. The calculation accounts for emissions related to the extraction, cultivation, production and transportation of fuel, in addition to emissions from energy used on board the ship. The baseline for the calculation is the average well-to-wake GHG equivalent intensity of the fleet in 2020: 91.16 gCO2e/MJ. FuelEU Maritime required a 2% reduction below baseline in 2025, increasing to 6% in 2030, and accelerating from 2035 to reach an 80% reduction by 2050. FuelEU Maritime can be complied with by (1) increasing the use of low-carbon intensity fuels including biofuels, (2) pooling non-compliant vessels with over-compliant vessels to achieve a compliant average GHG equivalent intensity across the group, or (3) by paying a penalty.

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Compliance with the Maritime EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime regulations will result in additional compliance and administration costs to properly incorporate the provisions of the Directive into our business routines. Additional EU regulations which are part of the EU’s "Fit-for-55" legislation, could also affect our financial position in terms of compliance and administration costs when they take effect.

The United Kingdom (“UK”) government has released its interim response on the expansion of the UK Emission Trading Scheme (“UK ETS”) to the maritime sector. The response notes the following:

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These regulations are subject to change until the UK government and UK ETS Authority issue their final responses. Once issued, this response may provide clarity in respect of international voyage emissions which are intended to be included in the future.

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Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Our industry is currently heavily dependent on the consumption of fossil fuels, which has been linked by certain experts to greenhouse gas emissions and the warming of the global climate system. We are committed to working to reduce our GHG footprint, including by transitioning to low-carbon fuels while continuing to deliver for our customers. Our governance, strategy, risk management and performance monitoring efforts with respect to managing this challenge continue to evolve.

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. 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. The U.S. is not a party to the Paris Agreement.

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 reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noted that technological innovation and the introduction of alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieving the overall ambition. These regulations could cause us to incur additional substantial expenses. At MEPC 77, the Member States agreed to initiate the revision of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships, recognizing the need to strengthen the “levels of ambition.” In July 2023, MEPC 80 adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (the “2023 IMO Strategy”), which builds upon the initial strategy’s levels of ambition. The revised levels of ambition include (1) further decreasing the carbon intensity from ships through improvement of energy efficiency; (2) reducing carbon intensity of international shipping; (3) increasing adoption of zero or near-zero emissions technologies, fuels, and energy sources; and (4) achieving net zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. Furthermore, the following indicative checkpoints were adopted in order to reach net zero GHG emissions from international shipping: (1) reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008 levels; and (2)

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reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008 levels.

As part of the 2023 IMO Strategy, MPEC also developed the IMO Net-Zero Framework, which will combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across the industry. The IMO Net-Zero Framework was approved at MEPC 83 in April 2025. This framework establishes a Global Fuel Standard (GFS) to regulate greenhouse gas fuel intensity and a GHG pricing mechanism to manage the industry's economic transition. Under this structure, an IMO Net-Zero Fund will serve as the central hub for collecting, managing, and disbursing revenue generated from ships that exceed emissions thresholds. These funds are intended to reward "over-performers" using zero or near-zero emission technologies. Although the framework was initially slated for adoption at an extraordinary session of the MEPC in October 2025, the IMO decided to adjourn the session and consideration of the Net-Zero Framework for adoption, for one year to attempt to resolve deep divisions among members.

Proceedings at MEPC’s 84th session in April 2026 will determine the exact dates for the reconvened session and, importantly, what scope will be permitted, if any, to consider changes to the Net-Zero Framework during the reconvened second extraordinary session. Based on the outcomes of MEPC’s 84th session relating to the agenda of the reconvened second extraordinary session, the earliest the IMO Net-Zero Framework will enter into force is March 2028. If substantive changes to the IMO Net-Zero Framework are considered, the entry into force date could be further delayed. In the IMO Net-Zero Framework’s current form, any vessel consuming conventional fossil fuels would be required to transfer surplus credits from over-compliant vessels, purchase remedial credits through contributions to the Net-Zero Fund, or both to clear its compliance deficit. In its current form, the IMO Net-Zero Framework’s compliance requirements become incrementally more challenging for conventionally fueled vessels to achieve over time.

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 over 5,000 gross tonnage calling at EU ports are required to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information. Under the European Climate Law, the EU committed to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 through its “Fit-for-55” legislation. As part of this initiative, the European Union’s carbon market, EU ETS, has been extended to cover CO2 emissions from ships entering, departing from, or sailing between EU ports starting January 2024.

In the United States, the EPA issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger 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 Trump Administration issued an executive order to review and possibly eliminate the EPA’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and on August 13, 2020, the EPA released rules rolling back standards to control methane and volatile organic compound emissions from new oil and gas facilities. In early 2021, the Biden Administration directed the EPA to publish a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding certain of these rules, which was finalized in December 2023. However, the current administration is delaying these requirements limiting methane emissions and is considering repealing the measure altogether. Therefore, it is unclear how such environmental regulations could 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 Labour 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 that are 500 gross tonnage or over and are either engaged in international voyages or flying the flag of a Member and operating from a port, or between ports, in another country.  We believe that all of our vessels are in substantial compliance with and are certified to meet MLC 2006.

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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 Facility 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 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. We intend to 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, as well as off the coast of Western Africa. 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 BMP5 industry standard.

Inspection by Classification Societies

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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 contracted for construction 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 (American Bureau of Shipping, DNVGL, or Lloyd's Register of Shipping). All new and secondhand vessels that we purchase must be certified prior to their delivery under our standard agreements.

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 surveyed 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.

SEASONALITY

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We operate our vessels in markets that have historically exhibited seasonal variations in supply and demand for drybulk commodities and, as a result, there have been seasonal variations in freight and charter rates.  We may seek to mitigate the risk of these seasonal variations by entering into contracts of affreightment and/or medium to long-term time

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charters for certain of our vessels, where possible.  However, this seasonality may result in quarter-to-quarter volatility in our operating results, depending on when we enter into our time charters or if our vessels trade on the spot market.  The drybulk market has historically been stronger during the second half of the fiscal year due to increased cargo volumes from major export origins together with slower net fleet growth during that period.  As a result, our revenues could be weaker during the fiscal quarters ended March 31 and June 30, and conversely, our revenues could be stronger during the quarters ended September 30 and December 31. However, given the macroeconomic nature of drybulk shipping and various geopolitical events that occur year-to-year, the drybulk market can be influenced by other factors than typical seasonality, which could impact our revenue and earnings quarter-to-quarter.

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