Star Bulk Takes Delivery of Supramax Vessel and Expands Its Operational Fleet to Seven Vessels


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - January 4, 2008) - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: SBLK) announced today that it has taken delivery of the "Star Gamma" (ex C Duckling), a Supramax vessel of 53,098 dwt built in 2002 in Japan. Star Gamma is currently under a pre-existing time charter employment contract at a gross daily rate of USD 28,500 which continues until January 2009.

Star Bulk has agreed to acquire a total of nine dry bulk vessels including two Capesize, one Panamax and six Supramax vessels. As of today, the company has taken delivery of one Capesize and six Supramax vessels, thereby expanding its operational fleet to seven vessels. The remaining one Capesize and one Panamax vessels are scheduled for delivery within January 2008, as per the table below.

Fleet Table

The following table sets forth summary information regarding Star Bulk's fleet. Star Bulk expects to complete delivery of the vessels included in the table below within January 2008.

                                                         Charter     Time
                                        Year  Delivered   Party    Charter
Vessel Name              Type     DWT   Built to SLBK    Expiry(1)  rate(2)
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
CURRENT FLEET
Star Beta (ex. B                               Dec. 28,  Mar. 31,
 Duckling)             Capesize 174,691  1993    2007      2010    $106,500
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Gamma (ex. C                              Jan. 4,   Jan. 25,
 Duckling)             Supramax  53,098  2002    2008      2009    $ 28,500
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Zeta (ex. I                               Jan. 2, Mar.28,2008 $ 30,500
 Duckling)             Supramax  52,994  2003    2008    Mar. 2013 $ 39,500
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Delta (ex. F                              Jan. 2,    May 7,
 Duckling)             Supramax  52,434  2000    2008      2009    $ 25,800
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Theta (ex. J                              Dec. 7,   Jun. 16,
 Duckling)             Supramax  52,425  2003    2007      2009    $ 32,500
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Epsilon (ex. G                            Dec. 4,   Mar. 15,
 Duckling)             Supramax  52,402  2001    2007      2009    $ 25,550
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Kappa (ex E                               Dec. 18,  Nov. 23,
 Duckling)             Supramax  52,055  2001    2007      2010    $ 47,800
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Total                           490,099
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
VESSELS TO BE DELIVERED
Star Alpha (ex. A                                         Oct. 5,
 Duckling)             Capesize 175,075  1992 Jan. 2008    2009    $ 47,500
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Star Iota (ex. Mommy                                      Jan. 15,
 Duckling)              Panamax  78,585  1983 Jan. 2008    2009    $ 18,000
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Total                           253,660
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------
Fleet Total                     743,759
                       -------- ------- ----- --------- ---------- --------

*   Indicates expected delivery
(1) Represents the latest expiry date allowed by the charter party
(2) Represents the gross daily rate

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 such as bauxite, phosphate and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece. Its common stock and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbols "SBLK" and "SBLKW" respectively. Star Bulk has definitive agreements to acquire a fleet of nine dry bulk carriers, seven of which have been delivered, from subsidiaries of TMT Co, Ltd. The nine dry bulk carriers consist of two Capesize, one Panamax and six Supramax dry bulk vessels with an average age of approximately 9.5 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of 743,759 deadweight tons.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (1) the delivery and operation of assets of Star Bulk; (2) Star Bulk's future operating or financial results; (3) future, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion, and expected capital spending or operating expenses; (4) drybulk market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting vessel supply and demand; and (5) other statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "may," or words of similar meaning.

Such forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Star Bulk's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in their records and other data available from third parties. Although Star Bulk 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 their control, Star Bulk cannot assure you that Star Bulk will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of a seller to deliver one or more vessels, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in Star Bulk's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists. Additional factors that could cause Star Bulk's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Star Bulk's Registration Statement on Form F-1/F-4 and reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Star Bulk disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Contact Information: Company: Akis Tsirigakis President and CEO Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Aethrion Center, Suite B-34 40 Ag. Konstantinou Maroussi 15124 Athens, Greece www.starbulk.com Investor Relations / Financial Media: Nicolas Bornozis President Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536 New York, NY 10169 Tel. (212) 661-7566 E-mail: nbornozis@capitallink.com www.capitallink.com