Star Bulk Takes Delivery of M/V Peloreus, Its First Eco, Fuel-Efficient Capesize

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwired - Jul 24, 2014) - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Bulk") (NASDAQ: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that on July 22, 2014 it has taken delivery of M/V Peloreus (the "Vessel"), a 182,000 dwt Capesize built by Japan Marine United ("JMU"), one of the leading shipyards worldwide. The Vessel is the first of six similar vessels ordered at JMU, with expected deliveries until the 3^rd quarter of 2015. They are all built with modern specifications for lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions of any 180,000 DWT Capesize vessel of which we are aware.

The Vessel will be employed in the spot market in order to take advantage of its modern design and fuel efficient specifications.

Following the delivery of M/V Peloreus and inclusive of the two Kamsarmax vessels to be acquired from Heron Ventures Ltd., Star Bulk will own thirty three dry bulk vessels on the water, consisting of eleven Capesize, four Post-Panamax, six Kamsarmax, two Ultramax and ten Supramax vessels with average age of approximately 7.3 years.

In addition, Star Bulk has entered into definitive contracts for the construction of additionally thirty six vessels at high quality shipyards in Japan and China, including thirteen Newcastlemax, nine Capesize and fourteen Ultramax vessels with fuel-efficient specifications with expected deliveries in 2014, 2015 and early 2016.

The Company has partially financed the $34.63 million final delivery installment for the Vessel, using $32.5 million proceeds from the previously committed 5 year senior secured credit facility by Deutsche Bank AG, while the remaining amount was financed using cash on hand. The vessel was fitted with additional and higher specification equipment of approximately $0.54 million, the payment of which is included in the aforementioned final delivery installment.

About Star Bulk
Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk's vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain and minor bulks which include bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and maintains executive offices in Athens, Greece. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "SBLK". On a fully delivered basis, Star Bulk has a fleet of 69 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 8.7 million, consisting primarily of Capesize as well as Kamsarmax, Ultramax and Supramax vessels with carrying capacities between 52,000 dwt and 209,000 dwt. Our fleet currently includes 33 operating vessels and 36 currently under construction at shipyards in Japan and China. All of the newbuilding vessels are expected to be delivered during 2014, 2015 and early 2016.

Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 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.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

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

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company's vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.