A. [Reserved] B. Capitalization and Indebtedness Not applicable. C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds Not applicable. D. Risk Factors Some of the following risks relate principally to the industry in which we operate and others relate to our business in general or our common stock. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected and the trading price of our securities could decline. Summary of Risk Factors Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below under the headings “Risks Relating to Our Industry,” “Risks Relating to Our Company” and “Risks Relating to Our Common Shares” and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this annual report on Form 20-F and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. 6 Table of Contents Risks Relating to Our Industry • Charter hire rates for dry bulk vessels are cyclical and volatile and the dry bulk market remains significantly below its historic high. This may adversely affect our earnings, revenue and profitability and our ability to comply with our loan covenants or covenants in other financing agreements. • Outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic diseases, and any relevant governmental responses thereto could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. • We are currently almost entirely dependent on index-linked charters, while in the past a part of our fleet was employed on a spot voyage basis. Any decrease in spot freight charter rates or indices in the future may adversely affect our earnings. • An over-supply of dry bulk vessel capacity may depress the current charter rates and vessel values and, in turn, adversely affect our profitability. • If economic conditions throughout the world decline, it will negatively impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. • Significant tariffs or other restrictions imposed on imports by the U.S. and related countermeasures taken by impacted foreign countries could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results. • Recent actions by the U.S. and China imposing new port fees could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results. • Political instability, terrorist attacks or other attacks, war, and international hostilities could affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. • Risks associated with operating ocean-going vessels could affect our business and reputation, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses. • Increases in fuel prices may adversely affect our profits. • Worldwide inflationary pressures could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows. • Our revenues are subject to seasonal fluctuations, which could affect our operating results and ability to service our debt or pay dividends. • Climate change and greenhouse gas restrictions may be imposed. • Technological developments which affect global trade flows and supply chains are challenging some of our largest customers and may therefore affect our business and results of operations. • Tax law changes may result in significant additional taxes to us. • Our operations may be adversely impacted by severe weather, including as a result of climate change. • Increased regulation as well as scrutiny of environmental, social and governance matters may impact our business and reputation. • Our vessels may call on ports located in or may operate in countries that are subject to restrictions or sanctions imposed by the United States, China, the European Union or other governments that could result in fines or other penalties imposed on us and may adversely affect our reputation and the market price of our common shares. • Sulfur regulations to reduce air pollution from ships have required retrofitting of vessels and may cause us to incur significant costs. • We are subject to regulation and liability under environmental laws that could require significant expenditures and affect our cash flows and net income. • Regulations relating to ballast water discharge may adversely affect our revenues and profitability. • Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and disrupt our business. • Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business. • The operation of dry bulk vessels has particular operational risks. • If any of our vessels fails to maintain its class certification or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, or special survey, or if any scheduled class survey takes longer or is more expensive than anticipated, this could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. • As we employ seafarers covered by industry-wide collective bargaining agreements, a failure of industry groups to renew such agreements may disrupt our operations and adversely affect our earnings. • Maritime claimants could arrest or attach one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flows. • Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, and available cash. 7 Table of Contents Risks Relating to Our Company • The market values of our vessels may decrease, which could limit the amount of funds that we can borrow or trigger breaches of certain financial covenants under our current or future loan agreements and other financing agreements, and we may incur an impairment or, if we sell vessels following a decline in their market value, a loss. • Newbuilding projects are subject to risks that could cause delays or additional unforeseen expenses and could impact our ability to successfully complete current and future newbuilding programs and investments. • We may be unable to obtain financing for vessels we may acquire in the future. • If the vessels we may acquire in the future are not delivered on time or are delivered with significant defects, our earnings and financial condition could suffer. • Substantial debt levels could limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and pursue other business opportunities. • Our loan agreements and other financing arrangements contain, and we expect that other future loan agreements and financing arrangements will contain, restrictive covenants that may limit our liquidity and corporate activities, which could limit our operational flexibility and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, because of the presence of cross-default provisions in our loan agreements and financing arrangements, a default by us under one loan agreement or financing arrangement could lead to defaults under multiple loans and financing agreements. • We depend on officers and directors who are associated with United Maritime Corporation, of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“United”), which may create conflicts of interest. • If we fail to manage our planned growth properly, we may not be able to successfully expand our market share. • Vessel aging and purchasing and operating secondhand vessels, such as our current fleet, may result in increased operating costs and vessel off-hire, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. • Volatility of SOFR and potential changes of the use of SOFR as a benchmark could affect our profitability, earnings, and cash flow. • The failure of our current or future counterparties to meet their obligations under our current or future contracts, including any charter agreements, could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business. • Rising crew costs may adversely affect our profits. • We may not be able to attract and retain key management personnel and other employees in the shipping industry, which may negatively affect the effectiveness of our management and our results of operations. • Our vessels may suffer damage, and we may face unexpected repair costs, which could adversely affect our cash flow and financial condition. • We are exposed to U.S. dollar and foreign currency fluctuations and devaluations that could harm our reported revenue and results of operations. • We maintain cash with a limited number of financial institutions, which may subject us to credit risk. • We are a holding company and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute funds to us in order to satisfy financial obligations or to pay dividends. • In the highly competitive international shipping industry, we may not be able to compete for charters with new entrants or established companies with greater resources, which may adversely affect our results of operations. • Due to our lack of fleet diversification, adverse developments in the maritime dry bulk shipping industry would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. • We have been and may in the future be subject to litigation that, if not resolved in our favor and not sufficiently insured against, could have a material adverse effect on us. • The shipping industry has inherent operational risks that may not be adequately covered by our insurances. Further, because we obtain some of our insurances through protection and indemnity associations, we have been and may in the future be retrospectively subject to calls or premiums in amounts based not only on our own claim records, but also on the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations. • Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or FCPA, could result in fines, criminal penalties, and an adverse effect on our business. • We partly depend on third-party technical, crew and commercial managers for technical, crew and commercial management of our ships. Our operations could be negatively affected if third-party managers fail to perform their services satisfactorily. • Management fees will be payable to our managers regardless of our profitability, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. • We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our common stock. 8 Table of Contents • We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income, which would reduce our earnings. • We may be subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which we or our vessel-owning or management subsidiaries are incorporated or operate. • We are a “foreign private issuer,” which could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price. • Our corporate governance practices are in compliance with, and are not prohibited by, the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and as such we are entitled to exemption from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards. As a result, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. • We conduct business in China, where the legal system is not fully developed and has inherent uncertainties that could limit the legal protections available to us. • Changing laws and evolving reporting requirements could have an adverse effect on our business. • A cyber-attack could materially disrupt our business. • The smuggling of drugs or other contraband onto our vessels may lead to governmental claims against us. • The international nature of our operations may make the outcome of any potential bankruptcy proceedings difficult to predict. Risks Relating to Our Common Shares • We may issue additional common shares or other equity securities without shareholder approval, which would dilute our existing shareholders’ ownership interests and may depress the market price of our common shares. • The market price of our common shares has been and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuations. Further, there is no guarantee of a continuing public market to resell our common shares. • A possible “short squeeze” due to a sudden increase in demand of our common stock that largely exceeds supply may lead to further price volatility in our common shares. • We may not have the surplus or net profits required by law to pay dividends. The declaration and payment of dividends will always be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors. Our board of directors may not declare dividends in the future. • The superior voting rights of our Series B Preferred Shares may limit the ability of our common shareholders to control or influence corporate matters. • Anti-takeover provisions in our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and fourth amended and restated bylaws could make it difficult for our shareholders to replace or remove our current board of directors or could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition, which could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. • Issuance of preferred shares, such as our Series B Preferred Shares, may adversely affect the voting power of our common shareholders and have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition, which could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. • We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law, which may negatively affect the ability of shareholders to protect their interests. • We may fail to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, which could cause our common shares to be delisted. • As a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices in Greece, and also having subsidiaries in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and other offshore jurisdictions such as the Republic of Liberia, our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements. • Our fourth amended and restated bylaws provide that the High Court of the Republic of Marshall Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain disputes between us and our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees. • We may not achieve the intended benefits of having a forum selection provision if it is found to be unenforceable. • It may not be possible for investors to serve process on or enforce U.S. judgments against us. 9 Table of Contents Risks Relating to Our Industry Charter hire rates for dry bulk vessels are cyclical and volatile and the dry bulk market remains significantly below its historic high. This may adversely affect our earnings, revenue and profitability and our ability to comply with our loan covenants or covenants in other financing agreements. The volatility in the dry bulk charter market, from which we derive substantially all of our revenues, has affected the dry bulk shipping industry and has harmed our business. The Baltic Dry Index, or the BDI, a daily average of charter rates for key dry bulk routes published by the Baltic Exchange Limited, has long been viewed as the main benchmark to monitor the movements of the dry bulk vessel charter market and the performance of the entire dry bulk shipping market and has been very volatile in recent years. The BDI declined from an all-time high of 11,793 in May 2008 to an all-time low of 290 in February 2016, which represents a decline of approximately 98%. In the following years volatility was also apparent, albeit less extreme. In 2025, the BDI ranged from a low of 715 on January 30, 2025 to a high of 2,845 on December 3, 2025. Although the BDI was 2,001 as of March 25, 2026, due to its volatile nature, there can be no assurance of the future performance of the BDI. The decline from historic highs and volatility in charter rates following 2008 is due to various factors, including the over-supply of dry bulk vessels, the lack of trade financing for purchases of commodities carried by sea, which resulted in a significant decline in cargo shipments, and trade disruptions caused by natural or other disasters, such as those that resulted from the dam collapse in Brazil in 2019 and the outbreak of the coronavirus infection in China. More recently, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S., the EU, the UK and other countries have imposed sanctions against Russia and certain disputed regions of Ukraine, including, among others, prohibitions and restrictions on selling or importing goods, services or technology in or from affected regions, travel bans and asset freezes impacting connected individuals and political, military, business and financial organizations in Russia, severing large Russian banks from U.S. and/or other financial systems, and barring some Russian enterprises from raising money in the U.S. market. The U.S., EU and other countries could impose wider sanctions and take other actions. The war in Ukraine has resulted in higher freight market volatility and while the initial effect on the dry bulk freight market was positive, the long-term effects so far remain unclear. More recently, the war between Israel and Hamas and the war between the United States and Israel and Iran, have resulted in increased tensions in the Middle East region, including missile attacks by the Houthis on vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and the potentially prolonged disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and entry into the Persian Gulf, thus creating uncertainty and risks to shipping operations in the region. Such circumstances have had and could in the future result in adverse consequences from time to time for dry bulk shipping, including, among other developments such as: • decrease in available financing for vessels; • no active secondhand market for the sale of vessels; • decrease in demand for dry bulk vessels and limited employment opportunities; • charterers seeking to renegotiate the rates for existing time charters; • widespread loan covenant defaults in the dry bulk shipping industry due to the substantial decrease in vessel values; and • declaration of bankruptcy by some operators, charterers and vessel owners. The degree of charter hire rate volatility among different types of dry bulk vessels has varied widely. If we enter into a charter when charter hire rates are low, our revenues and earnings will be adversely affected and we may not be able to successfully charter our vessels at rates sufficient to allow us to operate our business profitably or meet our obligations. Further, if low charter rates in the dry bulk market decline further for any significant period, this could have an adverse effect on our vessel values and ability to comply with the financial covenants in our loan agreements or other financing agreements. In such a situation, unless our lenders are willing to provide waivers of covenant compliance or modifications to our covenants, our lenders could accelerate our debt and we could face the loss of our vessels. We expect continued volatility in market rates for our vessels in the foreseeable future with a consequent effect on our short and medium-term liquidity. We cannot assure you that future charter rates will enable us to cover our liabilities, operate our vessels profitably, or pay dividends. 10 Table of Contents The factors that influence demand for dry bulk shipping capacity include: • supply of and demand for energy resources, commodities, and semi-finished consumer and industrial products and the location of consumption versus the location of their regional and global exploration production or manufacturing facilities; • the globalization of production and manufacturing; • changes in interest or inflation rates; • general domestic and international political conditions or events, including trade wars, retaliatory economic measures, acts of hostility or potential, threatened, or ongoing war, including the war between Russia and Ukraine (and related sanctions), the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the region of Red Sea, the war between the U.S. and Israel and Iran, China and Taiwan disputes, the tensions between the U.S. and China, the tensions between the U.S. and Panama, current instability in Venezuela and potential tensions between the U.S. and Greenland, Denmark, the European Union, or Venezuela; • global and regional economic and political conditions and developments, including the provision or removal of economic stimulus measures meant to counteract the effects of sudden market disruptions due to financial, economic or health crises; • natural disasters and weather; • public health threats, pandemics, epidemics, and other disease outbreaks and governmental responses thereto; • embargoes and strikes; • disruptions and developments in international trade, including trade disputes or the imposition of tariffs or trade barriers on various commodities or finished goods; • changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including the distance cargo is transported by sea; • environmental and other legal or regulatory developments; and • political developments, including changes to trade policies or trade wars, including the provision or removal of economic stimulus measures meant to counteract the effects of sudden market disruptions due to financial, economic, or health crises. Outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic diseases, and any relevant governmental responses thereto could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Global public health threats, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, influenza and other highly communicable diseases or viruses, outbreaks, which have from time to time occurred in various parts of the world in which we operate, including China, could adversely impact our operations, as well as the operations of our customers. For example, the outbreak of COVID-19 caused severe global disruptions with governments in affected countries imposing travel bans, quarantines and other emergency public health measures. Restrictions and future prevention and mitigation measures against outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic diseases, such as travel restrictions and temporarily closing business, are likely to have an adverse impact on global economic conditions, which could materially and adversely affect our future operations. As a result of such measures, our vessels may not be able to call on, or disembark from ports, located in regions affected by the outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic also, among other things, caused factory closures and restrictions on travel, as well as labor shortages or lack of berths, delays and uncertainties relating to newbuilding vessels, drydockings and vessel inspections, shortages or a lack of access to required spare parts and other functions of shipyards. Other future disease outbreaks or COVID-19 variants may cause us to experience severe operational disruptions and delays, unavailability of normal port infrastructure and services including limited access to equipment, critical goods and personnel, disruptions to crew changes, quarantine of ships and/or crew, counterparty solidity, closure of ports and custom offices, as well as disruptions in the supply chain and industrial production, which may lead to reduced cargo demand, among other potential consequences attendant to epidemic and pandemic diseases. The extent to which our business, operating results, cash flows, financial condition, financings, value of our vessels, and ability to pay dividends may be negatively affected by future pandemics, epidemics, or other outbreaks of infectious diseases is highly uncertain and will depend on numerous evolving factors that we cannot predict, including, but not limited to, (i) the duration and severity of the infectious disease outbreak; (ii) the imposition of restrictive measures to combat the outbreak and slow disease transmission; (iii) the introduction of financial support measures to reduce the impact of the outbreak on the economy; (iv) shortages or reductions in the supply of essential goods, services, or labor; and (v) fluctuations in general economic or financial conditions tied to the outbreak, such as a sharp increase in interest rates or reduction in the availability of credit. This impact could be material and adverse. 11 Table of Contents We are currently almost entirely dependent on index-linked charters, while in the past a part of our fleet was employed on a spot voyage basis. Any decrease in spot freight charter rates or indices in the future may adversely affect our earnings. We currently have all of our vessels employed on time charters whose daily rates are linked to the Baltic Capesize Index, or BCI. However, for two of these vessels, the daily hire includes a fixed floor rate as well as a profit-sharing scheme based on a premium over the daily BCI. Although none of our vessels are currently operating in the spot market on a voyage basis, we may employ any additional vessels we may acquire on a spot voyage basis, or on index-linked or fixed rate time charters. Although the number of vessels in our fleet that are employed on spot voyages or have index-linked or fixed rate charters will vary from time to time, dictated by a multitude of factors and the chartering opportunities before us, we anticipate that a significant portion of our fleet will be affected by the spot freight market or the BCI. As a result, our financial performance will be significantly affected by conditions in the dry bulk spot freight market or the BCI and only our vessels that would operate under fixed-rate time charters would, during the period in which such vessels operate under such time charters, provide a fixed source of revenue to us. If future spot charter rates or indices decline, we may be unable to operate our vessels profitably, and our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition will be significantly affected. Historically, spot charter rates and dry bulk charter indices have been volatile as a result of the many conditions and factors that can affect the price of, supply of and demand for dry bulk capacity. The successful operation of our vessels in the competitive spot charter market depends upon, among other things, fixing profitable spot voyages and minimizing, to the extent possible, time spent waiting for charters and time spent traveling unladen to pick up cargo. The spot market is very volatile, and, in the past, there have been periods when spot rates declined below the operating cost of vessels. If future spot charter rates or the BCI decline, we may be unable to operate our vessels trading in the spot market or our BCI-linked charters profitably, or meet our other obligations, including payments on indebtedness. Furthermore, as charter rates for spot charters are usually fixed for a single voyage, which may last up to several weeks, during periods in which spot charter rates are rising, we will generally experience delays in realizing the benefits from such increases. Spot charter rates are also not uniform globally and may vary substantially between different geographical regions; therefore, realizing opportunities in the spot market will also depend on the geographical location of our vessels at any given time. Additionally, when our vessels are chartered under a fixed rate time charter, if spot freight rates or short-term time charter rates fall significantly below the time charter equivalent rates that some of our charterers are obligated to pay us under the agreed time charter, the charterers may have an incentive to default on, or attempt to renegotiate the charter. If our charterers fail to pay their obligations, we would have to attempt to re-charter our vessels at lower charter rates, which would affect our ability to comply with our loan covenants and operate our vessels profitably. If we are not able to comply with our loan covenants and our lenders choose to accelerate our indebtedness and foreclose their liens, we could be required to sell vessels in our fleet and our ability to continue to conduct our business would be impaired. An over-supply of dry bulk vessel capacity may depress the current charter rates and vessel values and, in turn, adversely affect our profitability. The market supply of vessels generally increases with deliveries of new vessels and decreases with the recycling of older vessels, conversion of vessels to other uses, such as floating production and storage facilities, and loss of tonnage as a result of casualties. In previous years, the market supply of dry bulk vessels had increased due to the high level of new deliveries. Dry bulk newbuilding vessels were delivered in significant numbers starting at the beginning of 2006 and continued to be delivered in significant numbers through 2017. In addition, the dry bulk newbuilding orderbook, extending up to 2030, was approximately 12.6% of the existing world dry bulk fleet as of the end of March 2026, according to Clarksons Research, and the orderbook may increase further in proportion to the existing fleet. Even though the overall level of the orderbook has declined over the past years, an over-supply of dry bulk vessel capacity could depress the current charter rates. Factors that influence the supply of vessel capacity include: • the number of newbuilding orders and deliveries, including delays in new vessels’ deliveries; • the number of shipyards and their ability to deliver vessels; • potential disruption, including supply chain disruptions, of shipping routes due to accidents or political events; • scrapping and recycling rate of older vessels; • vessel casualties; • the price of steel and vessel equipment; • product imbalances (affecting the level of trading activity) and developments in international trade; 12 Table of Contents • the number of vessels that are out of service, namely those that are laid-up, drydocked, awaiting repairs or otherwise not available for hire; • vessels’ average speed; • technological advances in vessel design and capacity; • availability of financing for new vessels and shipping activity; • the imposition of sanctions, tariffs, import and export restrictions, nationalizations, trade barriers or embargos; • changes in national or international regulations that may effectively cause reductions in the carrying capacity of vessels or early obsolescence of tonnage; • changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful life of vessels; • port or canal congestion; • changes in interest or inflation rates; • changes in market conditions, including general domestic and international political conditions or events, including trade wars, acts of hostility or potential, threatened, or ongoing war, including the war between Russia and Ukraine (and related sanctions), the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the region of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the war between the United States and Israel and Iran, China and Taiwan disputes, the tensions between the U.S. and China, the tensions between the U.S. and Panama, current instability in Venezuela and potential tensions between the U.S. and Greenland, Denmark, the European Union, or Venezuela; and • changes in global and regional economic and political conditions, including the provision or removal of economic stimulus measures meant to counteract the effects of sudden market disruptions due to financial, economic or health crises. In addition to the prevailing and anticipated charter rates, factors that affect the rates of newbuilding, scrapping and laying-up include newbuilding prices, secondhand vessel values in relation to scrap prices, costs of bunkers and other operating costs, costs associated with classification society surveys, normal maintenance costs, insurance coverage costs, the efficiency and age profile of the existing dry bulk fleet in the market, as well as government and industry regulation of maritime transportation practices, particularly environmental protection laws and regulations. These factors influencing the supply of and demand for shipping capacity are outside of our control, and we may not be able to correctly assess the nature, timing and degree of changes in industry conditions. If dry bulk vessel capacity increases but the demand for vessel capacity does not increase or increases at a slower rate, charter rates could materially decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. If economic conditions throughout the world decline, it will negatively impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. Various macroeconomic factors, including rising inflation, higher interest rates, global supply chain constraints and the effects of overall economic conditions and uncertainties, such as those resulting from the current and future conditions in the global financial markets, could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends. Inflation and rising interest rates may negatively impact us by increasing our operating costs and our cost of borrowing. Interest rates, the liquidity of the credit markets and the volatility of the capital markets could also affect the operation of our business and our ability to raise capital on favorable terms, or at all. Adverse economic conditions also affect demand for goods and oil. Reduced demand for these or other products could result in significant decreases in rates we obtain for chartering our vessels. In addition, the cost for crew members, oils and bunkers and other supplies may increase. Furthermore, we may experience losses on our holdings of cash and investments due to failures of financial institutions and other parties. Difficult economic conditions may also result in a higher rate of losses on our accounts receivable due to credit defaults. As a result, downturns in the worldwide economy could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and ability to pay dividends. The world economy continues to face a number of challenges, including the wars between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Hamas; political, economic, and social instability in Venezuela and the U.S. actions thereto—including vessel seizures and military and political intervention; war between the United States and Israel and Iran; tensions in and around the Red Sea and Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) country tensions; China and Taiwan disputes; United States and China trade relations; tensions between the U.S. and Panama; hostilities between the United States and North Korea, Venezuela, Greenland and Denmark; other political unrest and conflict in the Middle East, the South China Sea region and other geographic countries and areas; terrorist or other attacks (including threats thereof) around the world; war (or threatened war) or international hostilities; epidemics or pandemics; and banking crises or failures. See also “— Outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic diseases and any relevant governmental responses thereto could adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition.” 13 Table of Contents In addition, the continuing war in Ukraine, the length and breadth of which remains highly unpredictable, has led to increased economic uncertainty amidst fears of a more generalized military conflict or significant inflationary pressures, due to the increases in fuel and grain prices following the sanctions imposed on Russia. Furthermore, it is difficult to predict the intensity and duration of the war between Israel and Hamas or the Houthi rebel attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea and their impact on shipping and the world economy is uncertain. Under a May 2025 agreement, the Houthi militant group declared that it would stop targeting most commercial ships crossing the Red Sea, although in July 2025 the Houthis pledged to target ships belonging to any company that conducts business with Israeli ports, and in September 2025 used a cruise missile and two drones to target a container ship. On October 9, 2025, Israel, Hamas, the United States and other countries in the region agreed to a framework for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which if sustained, could reduce regional instability in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, whether the ceasefire will be sustained or will result in a lasting de-escalation of tensions in the region is unknown. In addition, increased threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf region were reported following the outbreak of war between the United States and Israel and Iran. Such events may have unpredictable consequences and contribute to instability in the global economy or cause a decrease in worldwide demand for certain goods and, thus, shipping. In Europe, concerns regarding the possibility of sovereign debt defaults by European Union (“EU”), member countries, including Greece, although generally alleviated, have in the past disrupted financial markets throughout the world, and may lead to weaker consumer demand in the European Union, the U.S. and other parts of the world. The withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (“Brexit”) and the U.S. implementation of tariffs and related countermeasures taken by impacted foreign countries further increases the risk of additional trade protectionism. Brexit, or similar events in other jurisdictions, could impact global markets, including foreign exchange and securities markets; any resulting changes in currency exchange rates, tariffs, treaties and other regulatory matters could in turn adversely impact our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. In addition, the recent economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in China, may exacerbate the effect of the weak economic trends in the rest of the world. Before the global financial crisis that began in 2008, China had one of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, which had a significant impact on shipping demand. China’s GDP growth rate recovered from 3.0% in 2022 to 5.2% in 2023, but the economy continued to be weighed down by the ongoing crisis in the property market. For the year ended December 31, 2025, China’s GDP growth rate declined slightly to approximately 4.8%. Looking ahead, China’s economic growth is expected to continue to moderate, with forecasts projecting a GDP growth rate of around 4.5% for 2026. Although the Chinese government has implemented economic stimulus measures, it is possible that China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region will continue to experience volatile, slowed or even negative economic growth in the near future. Changes in the economic conditions of China, and changes in laws or policies adopted by its government or the implementation of these laws and policies by local authorities, including with regards to tax matters and environmental concerns (such as achieving carbon neutrality), could affect our vessels that are either chartered to Chinese customers or that call to Chinese ports, our vessels that undergo drydocking at Chinese shipyards and Chinese financial institutions that are generally active in ship financing, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. See also “—Recent actions by the U.S. and China imposing new port fees could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results.” Credit markets in the U.S. and Europe have in the past experienced significant contraction, deleveraging and reduced liquidity, and there is a risk that the U.S. federal government and state governments and European authorities may continue to implement a broad variety of governmental action and/or introduce new financial market regulations. Global financial markets and economic conditions have been, and continue to be, volatile and we face risks associated with the trends in the global economy, such as changes in interest rates, instability in the banking and securities markets around the world, the risk of sovereign defaults, and reduced levels of growth, among other factors. Major market disruptions and the current adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate worldwide may adversely affect our business, results or operations or impair our ability to borrow under our current financial arrangements or future financial arrangements we may enter into contemplating borrowing from the public and/or private equity and debt markets. Many lenders increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending standards, refused to refinance existing debt at all or on terms similar to current debt and reduced (or in some cases ceased to provide) funding to borrowers and other market participants, including equity and debt investors and, in some cases, have been unwilling to provide financing on attractive terms or even at all. While recent developments in the global credit markets have been supportive of borrowing and refinancing, we cannot be certain that financing will be available if needed and to the extent required, on acceptable terms or at all. In the absence of available financing or financing on favorable terms, we may be unable to complete vessel acquisitions, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures. 14 Table of Contents Significant tariffs or other restrictions imposed on imports by the U.S. and related countermeasures taken by impacted foreign countries could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results. Governments have and may continue to turn to trade barriers to protect their domestic industries against foreign imports, thereby depressing shipping demand. In April 2025, the U.S. government announced a baseline tariff of 10% on products imported from all countries and an additional individualized reciprocal tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits. Many of these reciprocal tariffs went into effect in August 2025. Some of these tariffs, including the 10% baseline tariff, were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (the “IEEPA”). In February 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the tariffs imposed under the IEEPA. Although the IEEPA tariffs were ruled illegal, tariffs imposed through other measures still remain in effect. Further, President Trump, using the Trade Act of 1974, has implemented a temporary, 150-day, 10% tariff on all imports. The tariff imposed under the Trade Act of 1974 is set to expire on July 24, 2026, and the Trump administration may increase the tariff to 15%. The scope and durability of current and future tariff measures are uncertain. Increased tariffs by the United States have led and may continue to lead to the imposition of retaliatory tariffs by foreign jurisdictions. Additionally, the U.S. government has announced and rescinded multiple tariffs on several foreign jurisdictions, which has increased uncertainty regarding the ultimate effect of the tariffs on economic conditions. Although we are continuing to monitor the economic effects of such announcements, as well as opportunities to mitigate their related impacts, costs and other effects associated with the tariffs remain uncertain. Protectionist developments, or the perception that they may occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions, and may significantly reduce global trade. Moreover, increasing trade protectionism may cause an increase in (i) the cost of goods exported from regions globally, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region, (ii) the length of time required to transport goods and (iii) the risks associated with exporting goods. Such increases may further reduce the quantity of goods to be shipped, shipping time schedules, voyage costs and other associated costs, which could have an adverse impact on our charterers’ business, operating results and financial condition and could thereby affect their ability to make timely charter hire payments to us and to employ our vessels. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. See also “—Recent actions by the U.S. and China imposing new port fees could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results.” Recent actions by the U.S. and China imposing new port fees could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results. In 2025, the United States Trade Representative (the “USTR”) put forward significant trade actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 with the aim of addressing China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. These actions have the potential to dramatically increase the port fees and therefore the overall operating expenses for ships calling at U.S. ports. Specifically, the USTR has enacted a series of fees that would function as direct increases to port-related costs. The action generally includes a fee targeting Chinese owners and operators for each instance a vessel owned or operated by a Chinese entity enters a U.S. port. The fee would be calculated at a rate of $50 per net ton of the vessel for each port entrance beginning October 14, 2025 and increasing over time, plateauing at $140 per net ton in 2028. Another fee focuses on operators with fleets including Chinese-built vessels. Under the action, in the case of a vessel not subject to the fees on Chinese owners and operators described above, fees generally would be imposed each time a Chinese-built vessel enters a U.S. port. The fee relevant to our vessels generally would be calculated at a rate of $18 per net ton of the vessel for each port entrance beginning October 14, 2025 and increasing over time, plateauing at $33 per net ton in 2028. There are several exceptions to this fee, including for vessels with capacity of 55,000 dwt or less, vessels arriving to the U.S. empty or in ballast, and vessels entering a port in the continental United States from a voyage of less than 2,000 nautical miles from a foreign port or point. The actual implementation of this action remains uncertain. Specifics, such as applicability to sale and leaseback agreements (“SLBs”) with Chinese leasing financiers, have not been clarified. In an SLB, the lessor is the registered owner of the vessel, while the bareboat charterer remains the disponent owner responsible for the operation of the vessel. It is currently unclear whether the vessels would be subject to fees on Chinese owners due to the SLB arrangements. 15 Table of Contents Of the 19 vessels we currently operate, one was constructed in China. However, we have entered into and may further enter in the future into SLB transactions with Chinese financial institutions. Additionally, we are currently party to shipbuilding contracts for newbuilding vessels being constructed in Chinese shipyards and may in the future enter into contracts for additional newbuilding vessels or secondhand vessels constructed in China. In response to the USTR action, on October 10, 2025, China announced retaliatory port fees, effective October 14, 2025, applicable to vessels calling at Chinese ports which are built or flagged in the U.S. or owned or operated by certain U.S.-linked persons. There is significant uncertainty as to the scope of applicability of these new port fees and how they will be implemented. On November 10, 2025, U.S. and Chinese authorities suspended the application of each respective set of port fees for one year. Substantial uncertainty remains as to how the port fees will be assessed after the end of the suspension period, scheduled for November 10, 2026. Further retaliatory measures from China or other nations could further compound disruptions and cost increases within the global shipping industry. In addition to direct port fee increases, other retaliatory actions by China or other countries could indirectly impact port-related costs, disrupt global shipping patterns and potentially increase congestion and costs at ports worldwide, including U.S. ports. Given the potential magnitude of these port-related fees and the many uncertainties surrounding their implementation, it is not possible at this time to fully predict the ultimate financial impact. However, if the action or similar measures are implemented, port fees for our vessels or vessels we charter and our operating costs for voyages calling at U.S. or Chinese ports could materially increase. Even though port fees are typically borne by the charterer, if port fees are assessed due to our or the lessor’s ownership or the place of construction of the relevant vessel, it is possible that charterers may demand that we bear these costs or otherwise reduce the applicable charter rate. This, in turn, could significantly reduce our profitability, negatively impact our ability to compete effectively, and materially and adversely affect our operations and financial results. Political instability, terrorist attacks or other attacks, war, and international hostilities could affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. We conduct most of our operations outside of the United States and our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, and available cash may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and governmental conditions in the countries and regions where our vessels or other vessels we may acquire are employed or registered. Moreover, we operate in a sector of the economy that is likely to be adversely impacted by the effects of political uncertainty and armed conflicts, including the war between Ukraine and Russia, between Israel and Hamas, between Israel and the U.S. and Iran, between Russia and NATO, China and Taiwan disputes, U.S. and China trade relations, hostilities between the U.S. and North Korea, Greenland, Denmark or Venezuela, political unrest and conflicts in the Middle East, the South China Sea region, the Red Sea region (including missile attacks controlled by the Houthis on vessels transiting the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden), and other countries and geographic areas, geopolitical events, such as Brexit, or another withdrawal from the European Union, terrorist or other attacks (or threats thereof) around the world, and war (or threatened war) or international hostilities. Such events may contribute to further economic instability in the global financial markets, international commerce, and could also adversely affect our ability to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us or at all. The war between Russia and Ukraine may lead to further regional and international conflicts or armed action. This war has disrupted supply chains and caused instability in the energy markets and the global economy, with effects on shipping freight rates, which have experienced volatility. The United States and the United Kingdom, among other countries, as well as the European Union, have implemented unprecedented economic sanctions and other penalties against certain persons, entities and activities connected to Russia, including removing Russian-based financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication payment system and restricting imports of Russian oil, liquified natural gas and coal. These sanctions have caused supply disruptions in the oil and gas markets and could continue to cause significant volatility in energy prices, which could result in increased inflation and may trigger a recession in the U.S. and China, among other regions. While much uncertainty remains regarding the global impact of the war in Ukraine, it is possible that such tensions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation, and cash flows. Moreover, additional insurance premia will apply in case we transit through or call to any port or area designated as listed areas by the Joint War Committee or other organizations. These factors may also result in the weakening of the financial condition of our charterers, suppliers, counterparties, and other agents in the shipping industry. As a result, our business, operating results, cash flows, and financial condition may be negatively affected since our operations are dependent on the success and economic viability of our counterparties. 16 Table of Contents Further, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine could result in the imposition of further economic sanctions by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or other countries against Russia, trade tariffs or embargoes with uncertain impacts on the markets in which we operate. In addition, the U.S. and certain other NATO countries have been supplying Ukraine with military aid. U.S. officials have also warned of the increased possibility of Russian cyberattacks, which could disrupt the operations of businesses involved in the drybulk industry, including ours and could create economic uncertainty particularly if such attacks spread to a broad array of countries and networks. While much uncertainty remains regarding the global impact of the war in Ukraine, it is possible that such tensions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. On January 3, 2026, the U.S. military captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a special military operation and was replaced by Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez. Additionally, beginning in December 2025, the U.S. has carried out an on-going campaign of seizing and taking control of Venezuelan-linked oil tankers. It remains uncertain what the geopolitical and economic impacts of U.S. measures to control the production, refining, and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products will be. Further, the future extent of the U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s government and oil industry is unclear. These circumstances have led to increased uncertainties, the effects of which on our operations and financial conditions are difficult if not impossible to predict. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. In retaliation, Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and a number of countries that host U.S. and U.K. military bases—including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia—and Hezbollah fired projectiles at Israel. While there is significant uncertainty about the duration of the war in Iran, the White House has stated that it may be a protracted engagement. These events have destabilized the region and may lead to significant disruptions across all sectors of the shipping industry. Further, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and at the Persian Gulf may experience prolonged disruption. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned vessels to avoid such passage. Increased electronic interference may affect navigational and tracking systems, which would heighten the risk of vessel collisions. Although it is impossible to predict exactly how this conflict will affect the dry bulk industry, a prolonged war may have significant impacts on the global economic activity and consequently on the sector. Past terrorist attacks and the ongoing threat of future incidents worldwide continue to instigate uncertainty in the global financial markets, potentially affecting our business, operating outcomes and financial condition. Acts of terror perpetrated by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region further heighten concerns about the impact on maritime transportation along key routes, such as the Red Sea route, affecting our shipping operations. The missile attacks by the Houthi regime in the Red Sea area have led to the diversion of a large part of the world fleet away from the Red Sea, increasing the ton-mile demand for most shipping sectors, including dry bulk, and resulting in higher freight rates. Rerouting away from the most convenient route for connecting East trade to the West and vice versa may, however, lead to increased operational costs and higher revenues. In case our vessels trade or transit via the Red Sea, we may incur increased insurance costs. While much uncertainty remains regarding the global impact of the wars in the Middle East, it is possible that such tensions could result in the eruption of further hostilities in other regions, including in and around the Red Sea, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation, and cash flows. Ongoing conflicts and recent developments in regions such as Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, Myanmar, and the Middle East (including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Syria, the Persian Gulf, Yemen), coupled with the presence of the United States or other armed forces in the Middle East, may lead to additional acts of terrorism and armed conflict globally. These events may contribute to heightened economic instability in the worldwide financial markets. Significant tariffs or other restrictions being imposed on imports by the U.S. and related countermeasures taken by impacted foreign countries, may be adversely affect our business, operating results, cash flows, and financial condition. See “— Significant tariffs or other restrictions imposed on imports by the U.S. and related countermeasures taken by impacted foreign countries could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results.” In the past, other political conflicts have also resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways, and other efforts to disrupt international shipping, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region. The ongoing war in Ukraine has previously resulted in missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Outbreaks of conflict in and around the Red Sea have also resulted in missile attacks on vessels. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels trading in regions such as the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, and the Indian Ocean. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our future performance, operating results, cash flows, financial position and our ability to pay cash distributions to our shareholders. 17 Table of Contents Risks associated with operating ocean-going vessels could affect our business and reputation, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses. The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. These risks include the possibility of: • crew strikes and/or boycotts; • acts of God; • damage to or destruction of vessels due to marine disaster; • terrorism, piracy or other detentions; • environmental accidents; • cargo and property losses or damage; and • business interruptions caused by mechanical failure, grounding, fire, explosions and collisions, human error, war, political action in various countries, labor strikes, epidemics or pandemics or adverse weather conditions and other circumstances or events. Any of these circumstances or events could increase our costs or lower our revenues. Such circumstances could result in death or injury to persons, loss of property or environmental damage, delays in the delivery of cargo, loss of revenues from or termination of charter contracts, governmental fines, penalties or restrictions on conducting business, litigation with our employees, customers or third parties, higher insurance rates, and damage to our reputation and customer relationships generally, market disruptions, delays and rerouting and could also subject us to litigation. Epidemics and other public health incidents may also lead to crew member illness, which can disrupt the operations of our vessels, or result in the imposition of public health measures, which may prevent our vessels from calling on ports or discharging cargo in the affected areas or in other locations after having visited the affected areas. Although we maintain hull and machinery and war risks insurance, as well as protection and indemnity insurance, which may cover certain risks of loss resulting from such occurrences, our insurance coverage may be subject to deductibles and caps, or may not cover such losses, and any of these circumstances or events could increase our costs or lower our revenues. Furthermore, the involvement of our vessels and other vessels we may acquire in an environmental disaster may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator. Any of these circumstances or events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as our cash flows. If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The time and costs of repairs are unpredictable and may be substantial. We may have to pay repair costs that our insurance does not cover in full. The loss of earnings while our vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs and repositioning, would decrease our earnings. In addition, space at drydocking facilities is sometimes limited and not all drydocking facilities are conveniently located. We may be unable to find space at a suitable drydocking facility and be forced to travel to a drydocking facility that is not conveniently located to our vessels’ positions. The loss of earnings while these vessels are forced to wait for space or to travel to more distant drydocking facilities, or both, would decrease our earnings. Increases in fuel prices may adversely affect our profits. The cost of fuel is a significant factor in negotiating voyage freight rates, although we generally do not directly bear the cost of fuel for vessels operating on time charters. As a result, an increase in the price of fuel may adversely affect our profitability if freight rates fail to rise to the extent required to cover a rise in the cost of fuel. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil and gas producers, the imposition of new regulations adopted by the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns and regulations. While fuel prices remained generally lower in the last couple of years, they increased significantly during the first quarter of 2026, primarily as a result of heightened geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts in the Middle East, which disrupted energy markets and increased volatility. Fuel has and may become much more expensive in the future, including as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, the imposition of tariffs and trade restrictions, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the imposition of sulfur oxide emissions limits in January 2020 and reductions of carbon emissions from January 2023 under new regulations adopted by the IMO, which may reduce the profitability and competitiveness of our business versus other forms of transportation, such as truck or rail. 18 Table of Contents Upon redelivery of any vessels at the end of a period time charter or a voyage charter, we may be obligated to repurchase bunkers on board at prevailing market prices, or purchase bunkers to refuel the vessel in case of a voyage charter, which could be materially higher than fuel prices at the inception of the charter period. However, given the current time charter agreements of our vessels and our chartering strategy, this cost is projected to be immaterial in the short to medium term. If in the future we decide to operate vessels on a voyage basis, then fuel would be the largest expense that we would incur with respect to vessels operating on voyage charter. Voyage charter contracts generally provide that the vessel owner bears the cost of fuel in the form of bunkers, which is a material operating expense, while under time charter agreements fuel expenses are borne by the charterers. We currently cannot guarantee that we will continue to employ our vessels on a time charter basis, or that we will hedge our fuel costs on any prospective future voyage charters. As a result, an increase in the price of fuel may negatively affect our profitability and cash flows in the future. Worldwide inflationary pressures could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows. Inflation could have an adverse impact on our business and operating results and subsequently on our financial condition both directly through the increase in operating costs, including crew costs and materials necessary for the operation of our vessels and indirectly through its adverse impact on the world economy in terms of increasing interest rates and slowdown of global growth. Worldwide economies have in the recent past experienced inflationary pressures, with price increases seen across many sectors globally. In response to the inflationary pressures in recent years, central banks made steep increases in interest rates, which resulted in increases to the interest rates available to us for the financing of our operations and investment activity. Although central banks have started decreasing interest rates, future monetary policies cannot be guaranteed. If central banks increase interest rates again, or interest rates otherwise increase significantly, the resulting increase to the interest rates available to us on both existing loans on floating rate and new debt financings or refinancings we may pursue could adversely affect our cash flows and our ability to complete vessel acquisitions, take advantage of business opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures. Furthermore, if inflationary pressures intensify, we may be unable to raise our charter rates enough to offset the increasing costs of our operations, which would decrease our profit margins and result in deterioration of our financial condition. There is uncertainty regarding inflation due to the likely shift in policy following numerous elections around the world. Trade tariffs announced by President Trump and retaliatory tariffs and countermeasures from affected countries could trigger economic uncertainty but the impact on inflation is unclear. Whether the present inflationary pressures will transition to a long-term inflationary environment and the effect of such a development on charter rates, vessel demand, and operating expenses in the sector in which we operate are uncertain. Our revenues are subject to seasonal fluctuations, which could affect our operating results and ability to service our debt or pay dividends. We operate in markets that have historically exhibited seasonal variations in demand and, as a result, in charter hire rates. This seasonality may result in quarter-to-quarter volatility in our operating results. The dry bulk shipping market is typically stronger in the fall and winter months in anticipation of increased consumption of coal and other raw materials in the northern hemisphere during the winter months. In addition, unpredictable weather patterns in these months tend to disrupt vessel schedules and supplies of certain commodities. This seasonality should not affect our operating results if our vessels are employed on fixed rate period time charters, but because most of our vessels are employed (the vessels we may acquire may be employed) on index-linked charters (or occasionally in the spot voyage market), seasonality may increase the volatility of, and materially affect, our operating results and cash flows, as well as our ability to pay dividends, if any, in the future. Climate change and greenhouse gas restrictions may be imposed. Due to concern over the risk of climate change, a number of countries and the IMO, have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These regulatory measures may include, among others, the adoption of cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates for renewable energy. For instance, the IMO imposed a global 0.5% sulfur cap on marine fuels, down from the previous cap of 3.5%, which came into force on January 1, 2020. In addition, in July 2023, the IMO adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships with enhanced targets to tackle harmful emissions. The IMO net-zero framework was approved by Marine Environment Protection Committee (“MEPC”) 83, including the new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions. The regulations were approved as amendments and submitted for adoption as legally binding, but in October 2025 the MEPC agreed to adjourn the meeting on adoption until October 2026, effectively postponing the adoption process by at least one year. These regulations and any additional regulations addressing similar goals could cause us to incur additional substantial expenses and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulations” for a discussion of these and other environmental regulations applicable to our operations. 19 Table of Contents In addition, although the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping currently are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (this task was delegated under the Kyoto Protocol to the IMO for action), which required adopting countries to implement national programs to reduce emissions of certain gases, a new treaty may be adopted in the future that includes restrictions on shipping emissions. Compliance with changes in laws, regulations and obligations relating to climate change could increase our costs related to operating and maintaining our vessels and require us to install new emission controls, acquire allowances or pay taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions, or administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. Revenue generation and strategic growth opportunities may also be adversely affected. Furthermore, on January 1, 2024, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, or the ETS, for ships sailing into and out of EU ports came into effect, and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation came into effect on January 1, 2025. The ETS applies gradually over the period from 2024 to 2026. 40% of allowances would have to be surrendered in 2025 for the year 2024; 70% of allowances would have to be surrendered in 2026 for the year 2025; and 100% of allowances would have to be surrendered in 2027 for the year 2026. Compliance is on a company -wide (rather than per ship) basis and “shipping company” is defined widely to capture both the ship owner and any contractually appointed commercial operator/ship manager/bareboat charterer who assumes all duties and responsibilities for the ship under the ISM Code, as well as the responsibility for full compliance under the ETS. If the latter contractual arrangement is entered into this needs to be reflected in a certified mandate signed by both parties and presented to the administrator of the scheme. The cap under the ETS is set by taking into account EU MRV system emissions data for each year and captures 100% of the emissions from intra-EU maritime voyages; 100% of emissions from ships at berth in EU ports and 50% of emissions from voyages which start or end at EU ports (but the other destination is outside the EU). Furthermore, the EU ETS Directive 2023/959 makes clear that all maritime allowances would be auctioned and there will be no free allocation. 78.4 million emissions allowances were allocated specifically to the maritime sector. Where there is a lack of allowances, these need to be purchased on the market, which can be costly. To prepare for and manage the administrative aspects of EU ETS compliance, we have made significant investments in new systems, including personnel, data management, cost recovery mechanisms, revised service agreement terms, and transparent emissions reporting procedures. The cost of future compliance and of our future EU emissions and costs to purchase an allowance for emissions (if we must purchase in order to comply) are unknown and difficult to predict, and are based on a number of factors, including the size of our fleet, our trips within and to and from the EU, and the prevailing cost of allowances. Additionally, on September 13, 2023, the European Council of the European Union adopted the Fuel EU Maritime Regulation 2023/1805 (“FuelEU”) under the FuelEU Initiative of its “Fit-for-55” package which sets limitations on the acceptable yearly greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used by covered vessels. Among other things, FuelEU requires that greenhouse gas intensity of fuel used by covered vessels is reduced by 2% starting January 1, 2025, with additional reductions contemplated every five years (up to 80% by 2050). Shipping companies may enter into pooling mechanisms with other shipping companies in order to achieve compliance, bank surplus emissions and borrow compliance balances from future years. A FuelEU Document of Compliance is required to be kept on board a vessel to show compliance by June 30, 2026. Both the ETS and FuelEU schemes have significant impacts on the management of the vessels calling to EU ports, by increasing the complexity and monitoring of, and costs associated with the operation of vessels and affecting the relationships with our time charterers. Adverse consequences of climate change, including growing public concern about the environmental impact of climate change, may also adversely affect demand for our services. For example, increased regulation of greenhouse gases or other concerns relating to climate change may reduce the demand for coal in the future, one of the primary cargoes carried by our vessels. In addition, the physical effects of climate change, including changes in weather patterns, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and scarcity of water resources, may negatively impact our operations. Any long-term economic consequences of climate change could have a significant financial and operational adverse impact on our business that we cannot predict with certainty at this time. Technological developments which affect global trade flows and supply chains are challenging some of our largest customers and may therefore affect our business and results of operations. By reducing the cost of labor through automation and digitization, including by means of new technologies in artificial intelligence and machine learning, among others, and empowering consumers to demand goods whenever and wherever they choose, technology is changing the business models and production of goods in many industries, including those of some of our largest customers. Consequently, supply chains are being pulled closer to the end-customer and are required to be more responsive to changing demand patterns. As a result, fewer intermediate and raw inputs are traded, which could lead to a decrease in shipping activity. If automation and digitization become more commercially viable and/or production becomes more regional or local, total containerized trade volumes would decrease, which would adversely affect demand for our services. Supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical and economic events, pandemics, rising tariff barriers and environmental concerns also accelerate these trends. 20 Table of Contents Tax law changes may result in significant additional taxes to us. Tax law changes may result in significant additional taxes to us. For example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the “OECD”) published a “Programme of Work,” which was divided into two pillars. Pillar One focused on the allocation of group profits among taxing jurisdictions based on a market-based concept rather than the historical “permanent establishment” concept. Pillar Two consists of two interrelated rules referred to as Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules, which operate to impose a minimum tax rate of 15% calculated on a jurisdictional basis. The reforms aim to level the playing field between countries by discouraging them from reducing their corporate income taxes to attract foreign business investment. In 2024, these guidelines were declared effective and must now be or have been enacted by those OECD member countries. In certain jurisdictions, qualifying international shipping income is generally excluded from many aspects of this framework, provided that the applicable exemption requirements are satisfied, although the interpretation and application of these rules remain subject to evolving administrative guidance and regulatory developments. Presently, it is difficult to assess if and to what extent such changes will impact our tax burden. Further developments and unexpected implementation mechanics could adversely affect our effective tax rate or result in higher cash tax liabilities. Any requirement or legislation that requires us to pay more tax could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and our ability to pay dividends. Our operations may be adversely impacted by severe weather, including as a result of climate change. Tropical storms, hurricanes, typhoons, and other severe marine weather events could result in the suspension of operations at the planned ports of call for our vessels and require significant deviations from planned routes. In addition, climate change could result in an increase in the frequency and severity of these extreme weather events. The closure of ports, rerouting of vessels, damage of production facilities, as well as other delays caused by increasing frequency of severe weather, could stop operations or shipments for indeterminate periods and have a material adverse effect on our business, results or operations, and financial condition. Increased regulation as well as scrutiny of environmental, social and governance matters may impact our business and reputation. In addition to the importance of their financial performance, companies are increasingly being judged by their performance on a variety of environmental, social and governance matters, or ESG, which are considered to contribute to the long-term sustainability of companies’ performance. A variety of organizations measure the performance of companies on such ESG topics, and the results of these assessments are widely publicized. In addition, investment in funds that specialize in companies that perform well in such assessments are increasingly popular, and major institutional investors have publicly emphasized the importance of such ESG measures to their investment decisions. Topics taken into account in such assessments include, among others, the company’s efforts and impact on climate change and human rights, ethics and compliance with laws, and the role of the company’s board of directors in supervising various sustainability issues. We actively manage a broad range of such ESG matters, taking into consideration their expected impact on the sustainability of our business over time, and the potential impact of our business on society and the environment. As far as the environmental aspect is concerned, since 2018 we have commenced implementing technical and operational measures aiming to improve the energy efficiency of our vessels and in extension reduce the CO2 emissions of the fleet. During 2023 the attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) for all our vessels have been calculated in accordance with regulation 23 of MARPOL Annex VI and the 2021 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained EEXI then in effect (resolution MEPC.333(76)) (EEXI Calculation Guidelines). All EEXI technical files containing the necessary information have been prepared in cooperation with the vessels’ recognized organizations, for which the on-board survey application is in progress. In addition, we have completed various biofuel trials in cooperation with leading charterers and operators. Moreover, we have installed scrubber and ballast water treatment systems, Energy Saving Devices, including artificial intelligence assisted remote performance monitoring systems, applied Existing Vessel Design Index, or EVDI, upgrades, very low friction silicon hull paints and hydrodynamic performance improving technologies, which constitute examples of the environmental practices we have adopted and aim to continue adopting on most of our vessels. We participate in various environmental initiatives in our industry and technical committees promoting various ESG matters. We have also secured and entered into two sustainability-linked financings for seven of our vessels. However, in light of investors’ increased focus on ESG matters, there can be no certainty that we will manage such issues successfully, or that we will successfully meet the industry’s or society’s expectations as to our proper role. Any failure or perceived failure by us in this regard could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and on our business, share price, financial condition, or results of operations, including the sustainability of our business over time. 21 Table of Contents On March 6, 2024, the SEC adopted final rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures by public companies and in public offerings. The final rules would have imposed requirements on companies, including foreign private issuers, to disclose climate-related risks and certain emissions. These rules were challenged in federal courts before they became effective and ultimately the SEC withdrew them in June 2025. If the SEC were to again adopt climate disclosure rules, or reimpose the rules it previously adopted in 2024, the costs of compliance could be significant and may have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position. Moreover, from time to time, we may incur additional costs, establish and publicly announce goals and commitments in respect of certain ESG items. While we may create and publish voluntary disclosures regarding ESG matters from time to time, many of the statements in those voluntary disclosures are based on hypothetical expectations and assumptions that may or may not be representative of current or actual risks or events or forecasts of expected risks or events, including the costs associated therewith. Such expectations and assumptions are necessarily uncertain and may be prone to error or subject to misinterpretation given the long timelines involved and the lack of an established single approach to identifying, measuring and reporting on many ESG matters. If we fail to achieve or improperly report on our progress toward achieving our environmental goals and commitments, the resulting scrutiny from market participants or regulators could adversely affect our reputation and/or our access to capital. Our vessels may call on ports located in or may operate in countries that are subject to restrictions or sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union or other governments that could result in fines or other penalties imposed on us and may adversely affect our reputation and the market price of our common shares. During the year ended December 31, 2025, none of our vessels called on ports located in countries subject at that time to comprehensive sanctions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or countries identified by the U.S. government or other authorities as state sponsors of terrorism; however, our vessels may call on ports in these countries from time to time in the future on our charterers’ instructions subject to any applicable insurance arrangements and prior approvals, if required. The U.S. sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or strengthened over time. We believe that we are currently in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations. In order to maintain compliance, we monitor and review the movement of our vessels on a daily basis. We endeavor to provide that all or most of our future charter agreements include provisions and trade exclusion clauses prohibiting the vessels from calling on ports where there is an existing U.S. embargo. Furthermore, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have entered into or have any plans to enter into, directly or indirectly, any contracts, agreements or other arrangements with the governments of Iran, North Korea, Cuba or any entities controlled by the governments of these countries. Due to the nature of our business and the evolving nature of the foregoing sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance at all times in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business, and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or refrain from investing, in us. In addition, certain institutional investors may have investment policies or restrictions that prevent them from holding securities of companies that have contracts with countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The determination by these investors not to invest in, or to divest from, our common shares may adversely affect the price at which our common shares trade. Moreover, our charterers may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation. In addition, our reputation and the market for our securities may be adversely affected if we engage in certain other activities, such as entering into charters with individuals or entities in countries subject to U.S. sanctions and embargo laws that are not controlled by the governments of those countries, or engaging in operations associated with those countries pursuant to contracts with third parties that are unrelated to those countries or entities controlled by their governments. 22 Table of Contents Sulfur regulations to reduce air pollution from ships have required retrofitting of vessels and may cause us to incur significant costs. Since January 1, 2020, IMO regulations have required vessels to comply with a global cap on the sulfur in fuel oil used on board of 0.5%, down from the previous cap of 3.5%. Compliance with this regulation is achieved by using 0.5% sulfur fuels on board; installing “scrubbers” for cleaning of the exhaust gas; or retrofitting vessels to be powered by liquefied natural gas. On a fully delivered basis nine of our vessels currently have scrubbers installed while the remaining twelve vessels in our fleet comply by burning low sulfur fuel (0.5% or 0.1%). Costs of compliance with these regulatory changes for our non-scrubber vessels or any non-scrubber vessels we may acquire may be significant and may have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. We have further developed ship specific implementation plans for safeguarding the smooth transition with the usage of compliant fuels for our vessels that are not equipped with scrubbers. However, due to the fact that Mediterranean Sea became a 0.1% sulfur emission control area on May 1, 2025, we may consider installing scrubbers in the rest or some of our vessels, if such investment is deemed beneficial. Costs of ongoing compliance may have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position. See Item 4. “Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulations—International Maritime Organization.” We are subject to regulation and liability under environmental laws that could require significant expenditures and affect our cash flows and net income. Our business and the operation of our vessels are materially affected by government regulation in the form of international conventions, national, state and local laws and regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which the vessels operate, as well as in the country or countries of their registration, including those governing oil spills, discharges to air and water, ballast water management, and the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. These requirements include, but are not limited to, EU regulations; the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA; the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response; Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA; the U.S. Clean Air Act, including its amendments of 1977 and 1990, or the CAA; the U.S. Clean Water Act, or the CWA; the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or the MTSA; and regulations of the IMO. These include, but are not limited to, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as CLC; the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as MARPOL, including the designation of emission control areas, or ECAs, thereunder; the IMO International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as SOLAS, the IMO International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, as from time to time amended and generally referred to as the LL Convention; the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, generally referred to as the Bunker Convention; the IMO’s International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, generally referred to as the ISM Code, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, generally referred to as the BWM Convention; and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, or ISPS. We may also incur additional costs in order to comply with other existing and future regulatory obligations, including, but not limited to, costs relating to the 0.5% sulfur cap on marine fuels, air emissions including greenhouse gases, the management of ballast water, maintenance and inspection, development and implementation of emergency procedures and insurance coverage or other financial assurance of our ability to address pollution incidents. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition and our available cash. Because such conventions, laws and regulations are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with such conventions, laws and regulations or the impact thereof on the resale price or useful life of vessels we may acquire in the future. Additional conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our doing business and which may materially adversely affect our operations. Regulations relating to ballast water discharge may adversely affect our revenues and profitability. The IMO has imposed updated guidelines for ballast water management systems specifying the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged from a vessel’s ballast water. Depending on the date of the IOPP renewal survey, existing vessels constructed before September 8, 2017 must comply with the updated D-2 standard. For all vessels, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ships constructed on or after September 8, 2017 are to comply with the D-2 standards. Vessels are required to meet the discharge standard D-2 by installing an approved Ballast Water Management System (or BWMS). Pursuant to the BWM Convention amendments, BWMSs installed on or after October 28, 2020 shall be approved in accordance with BWMS Code, while BWMSs installed before October 28, 2020 must be approved taking into account guidelines developed by the IMO or the BWMS Code. Ships sailing in U.S. waters are required to employ a type-approved BWMS which is compliant with United States Coast Guard, or USCG, regulations. Amendments to the BWM Convention entered into force in June 2022 concerning commissioning testing of BWMS and the form of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate. Additional amendments to the BWM Convention, concerning the form of the Ballast Water Record Book, entered into force on February 1, 2025. We have installed ballast water treatment systems in all our vessels which comply with the updated guidelines. Nevertheless, we might incur compliance costs for any vessels we might acquire in the future, which might have a substantial effect on our profitability. Additionally, 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. 23 Table of Contents Furthermore, United States regulations are currently changing. Although the 2013 Vessel General Permit, or VGP, program and U.S. National Invasive Species Act, or NISA, are currently in effect to regulate ballast discharge, exchange and installation, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018, requires that the USCG develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations regarding ballast water. It intends to replace the VGP scheme and streamline the patchwork of federal, state, and local requirements for the commercial vessel community. Pursuant to the VIDA, the EPA was required to develop new national discharge standards for vessels within two years, and the USCG was required to develop regulations and best management practices to implement and enforce those standards within two years of EPA-issued standards. VIDA also specifies that the provisions of the 2013 VGP will continue to apply until EPA and the USCG publish their final regulations, regardless of how long that takes, and that the permit cannot be modified during that time. On October 26, 2020, the EPA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance under VIDA, and in November 2020, held virtual public meetings. On October 18, 2023, the EPA published a Supplemental Notice to the Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance, which shares new ballast water information that the EPA received from the USCG. On September 20, 2024, the EPA finalized national standards of performance for non-recreational vessels 79-feet in length and longer with respect to incidental discharges and on October 9, 2024, the Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance were published. If the USCG spends the full two years to finalize the corresponding enforcement standards, the current 2013 VGP scheme will remain in force until late 2026. Several U.S. states have added specific requirements to the Vessel General Permit including submission of a Notice of Intent, or NOI, or retention of a Permit Authorization and Record of Inspection (PARI) form and submission of annual reports. This rule changes may have financial impact on our vessels and may result in vessels being banned from calling in the U.S. in case compliance issues arise. Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and disrupt our business. International shipping is subject to security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin, destination and trans-shipment points. Since the events of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security, such as the MTSA, which are the U.S. Coast Guard’s 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. In addition, pursuant to the SOLAS Convention, dry bulk vessels and the ports in which we plan to operate are subject to the ISPS Code. These security procedures can result in seizure of vessel cargo, delays in the loading, discharging or trans-shipment and the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against exporters or importers and, in some cases, vessels. Future changes to the existing security procedures may be implemented that could affect the dry bulk sector. These changes have the potential to impose additional financial and legal obligations on vessels and, in certain cases, to render the shipment of certain types of goods uneconomical or impractical. These additional costs could reduce the volume of goods shipped, resulting in a decreased demand for vessels and have a negative impact on our business, revenues and customer relations. Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business. Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, and Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea region off the coast of Nigeria, which has experienced increased incidents of piracy in recent years. Sea piracy incidents continue to occur, particularly in the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, in the Gulf of Guinea and the Strait of Malacca, with dry bulk vessels particularly vulnerable to such attacks. Acts of piracy could result in harm or danger to the crews that man our vessels. Additionally, if piracy attacks result in regions in which our vessels are deployed being characterized as “war risk” zones by insurers or if our vessels are deployed in Joint War Committee “war and strikes” listed areas, premiums payable for insurance coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage may be more difficult to obtain, if available at all. In addition, crew and security equipment costs, including costs that may be incurred to employ onboard security armed guards, could increase in such circumstances. Furthermore, while we believe the charterer remains liable for charter payments when a vessel is seized by pirates, the charterer may dispute this and withhold charter hire until the vessel is released. A charterer may also claim that a vessel seized by pirates was not “on-hire” for a certain number of days and is therefore entitled to cancel the charterparty, a claim that we would dispute. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, any detention hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost, or unavailability, of insurance for our vessels could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 24 Table of Contents The operation of dry bulk vessels has particular operational risks. The operation of dry bulk vessels has certain unique risks. With a dry bulk vessel, the cargo itself and its interaction with the vessel can be an operational risk. By their nature, dry bulk cargoes are often heavy, dense, easily shifted, and react badly to water exposure. In addition, dry bulk vessels are often subjected to battering treatment during discharging operations with grabs, jackhammers (to pry encrusted cargoes out of the hold) and small bulldozers. This treatment may cause damage to the vessel. Vessels damaged due to treatment during discharging procedures may affect a vessel’s seaworthiness while at sea. Hull fractures in dry bulk vessels may lead to the flooding of the vessels’ holds. If a dry bulk vessel suffers flooding in its forward holds, the bulk cargo may become so dense and waterlogged that its pressure may buckle the vessel’s bulkheads, leading to the loss of a vessel. If we are unable to adequately maintain our vessels, we may be unable to prevent these events. Any of these circumstances or events could negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, the loss of a vessel could harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator. If any of our vessels fails to maintain its class certification or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, or special survey, or if any scheduled class survey takes longer or is more expensive than anticipated, this could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be certified 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. A vessel must undergo annual, intermediate and special surveys. The vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. At the beginning, during and at the end of this cycle, every vessel is required to undergo inspection of her underwater parts that usually includes dry-docking. These surveys and dry-dockings can be costly and can result in delays in returning a vessel to operation. If any vessel does not maintain its class, the vessel will not be allowed to carry cargo between ports and cannot be employed or insured. Any such inability to carry cargo or be employed, or any related violation of the covenants under our loans or other financing agreements, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. As we employ seafarers covered by industry-wide collective bargaining agreements, a failure of industry groups to renew such agreements may disrupt our operations and adversely affect our earnings. We employ a large number of seafarers. All the seafarers employed on the vessels in our fleet are covered by industry-wide collective bargaining agreements that set minimum standards in wages and labor conditions. We cannot assure you that these agreements will be renewed as necessary or will prevent labor interruptions. Any labor interruptions could disrupt our operations and harm our financial performance. Maritime claimants could arrest or attach one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flows. Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt our cash flow and require us to pay large sums of funds to have the arrest lifted, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in some jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the “sister ship” theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel that is subject to the claimant’s maritime lien and any “associated” vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert “sister ship” liability against one of our vessels for claims relating to another of our vessels. Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, and available cash. A government could requisition for title or hire one or more of our vessels. Requisition for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes the owner. Also, a government could requisition a vessel for hire. Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes the charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency. Although we would be entitled to compensation in the event of a requisition, the amount and timing of payment of such compensation is uncertain. Government requisition of one or more of our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 25 Table of Contents Risks Relating to Our Company The market values of our vessels may decrease, which could limit the amount of funds that we can borrow or trigger breaches of certain financial covenants under our current or future loan agreements and other financing agreements, and we may incur an impairment or, if we sell vessels following a decline in their market value, a loss. The fair market values of our vessels are related to prevailing freight charter rates. While the fair market value of vessels and the freight charter market have a very close relationship as the charter market moves from trough to peak, the time lag between the effect of charter rates on market values of ships can vary. A decrease in the market value of our vessels could require us to raise additional capital in order to remain compliant with our loan covenants or the covenants in the other financing agreements and could result in the loss of our vessels (including, through foreclosure by our lenders and lessors) and adversely affect our earnings and financial condition. The market value of dry bulk vessels, and Capesize dry bulk carriers in particular, has historically exhibited great volatility. From 2010 until today, the standard 182,000 dwt Capesize yard resale prices have fluctuated from $35.0 million in March 2016 to $80.5 million in March 2026. The fair market value of our vessels is dependent on other factors as well, including: • general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry, including changes in global dry cargo commodity supply; • prevailing levels of charter rates; • competition from other shipping companies; • sophistication and condition of the vessels; • advances in efficiency, such as introduction of autonomous vessels; • where the vessel was built and as-built specifications and subsequent modifications and improvements; • lifetime maintenance record; • supply and demand for vessels; • types, sizes, and age of vessels; • number of newbuilding deliveries; • the cost to order and construct a new vessel; • number of vessels scrapped or otherwise removed from the world fleet; • the scrap value of vessels; • changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful life of vessels; • decreased costs and increases in use of other modes of transportation; • cost of secondhand vessel acquisitions; • whether the vessel is equipped with scrubbers; • global economic or pandemic-related crises; • governmental and other regulations, including environmental regulations; • ability of buyers to access financing and capital; • technological advances; and • the cost of retrofitting or modifying existing ships to respond to technological advances in vessel design or equipment, changes in applicable environmental or other regulations or standards, or otherwise. In addition, as vessels age, they generally decline in value. If the fair market value of our vessels declines, we may not be in compliance with certain covenants in our loan agreements and other financing agreements we may enter into, and our lenders or lessors could accelerate our indebtedness or require us to pay down our indebtedness to a level where we are again in compliance with the covenants in our loan agreements and other financing agreements or foreclose their liens. If any of our current or future loan agreements and other financing agreements are accelerated, we may not be able to refinance our debt or obtain additional funding. We expect that we will enter into more loan agreements and other financing agreements in connection with our vessels or future vessel acquisitions. For more information regarding our current loan facilities and other financing agreements, please see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Loan Arrangements.” In addition, if vessel values decline, we may have to record an impairment adjustment in our financial statements, which could adversely affect our financial results. Furthermore, if we sell one or more of our vessels at a time when vessel prices have fallen, the sale price may be less than the vessel’s carrying value on our consolidated financial statements, resulting in a loss on sale or an impairment loss being recognized, leading to a reduction in earnings. 26 Table of Contents Newbuilding projects are subject to risks that could cause delays or additional unforeseen expenses and could impact our ability to successfully complete current and future newbuilding programs and investments. We have entered into newbuilding contracts in connection with our vessel acquisition strategy and may in the future enter into additional newbuilding contracts. Newbuilding construction projects are subject to risks of delay inherent in any large construction project from numerous factors, including shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor, unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment or shipyard construction, failure of equipment to meet quality and/or performance standards, financial or operating difficulties experienced by equipment vendors or the shipyard, unanticipated actual or purported change orders, inability to obtain required permits or approvals, design or engineering changes, work stoppages and other labor disputes, adverse weather conditions, or any other events of force majeure. A shipyard’s failure to deliver a vessel on time may result in the delay of revenue from the vessel. In addition, delays in construction, failure by the shipyard to meet contractual delivery schedules or other contractual defaults may give rise to disputes between us and the relevant shipyard. Resolution of such disputes may require arbitration or other legal proceedings, which could result in additional costs, management distraction, delays in vessel delivery and uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of the relevant vessels and could impact our ability to successfully complete current and future newbuilding programs and investments. Any such failure or delay could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. We may be unable to obtain financing for vessels we may acquire in the future. We can offer no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing either for the obligations under our financing arrangements within 2026, or for the acquisition of any newbuilding vessels we have agreed to acquire or other vessels we may agree to acquire in the future, on attractive terms or at all. If financing is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our purchase price payment obligations and complete the acquisition of such vessels and expand the size of our fleet. If we fail to fulfill our commitments thereunder, due to an inability to obtain financing or otherwise, we may also be liable for damages for breach of contract. Our failure to obtain the funds for these capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial conditions, and cash flows. If the vessels we may acquire in the future are not delivered on time or are delivered with significant defects, our earnings and financial condition could suffer. We have historically expanded our fleet through the acquisition of secondhand vessels and may acquire additional vessels in the future. A delay in the delivery of any vessels to us, the failure of the contract counterparty to deliver a vessel at all, or us not taking delivery of a vessel could cause us to breach our obligations under the acquisition contract or under a related time charter and become liable for damages for breach of contract or could otherwise adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In cases where the fault lies with the contract counterparty, we would be entitled to compensation, but the amount and timing of payment of such compensation is uncertain. In addition, the delivery of any vessel with substantial defects could have similar consequences and, although we intend to inspect the condition of the vessels pre-acquisition, there is no assurance that we will be able to identify such defects. We have not received in the past, and do not expect to receive in the future, the benefit of warranties on any secondhand vessels we acquire. Any of these circumstances or events could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. Substantial debt levels could limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and pursue other business opportunities. As of December 31, 2025, we had $294.0 million in debt outstanding across our loan facilities and sale and leaseback transactions. Moreover, we anticipate that we will incur future indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of additional vessels, although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying further vessels or securing such debt financing. Significant levels of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following: • our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired, or such financing may be unavailable on favorable terms, or at all; • we may need to use a substantial portion of our cash from operations to make principal and interest payments on our bank debt and financing liabilities, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and any future dividends to our shareholders; • our debt level could make us more vulnerable to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally than our competitors with less debt; and • our debt level may limit our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions. 27 Table of Contents Our ability to service our indebtedness will depend upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, as well as the interest rates applicable to our outstanding indebtedness. If the value of our vessels does not sufficiently serve as a security for our lenders, or if our operating income is not sufficient to service our indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions, such as reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt or seeking additional equity capital. We may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms, or at all. In addition, a lack of liquidity in the debt and equity markets could hinder our ability to refinance our debt or obtain additional financing on favorable terms in the future. For more information regarding our current loan agreements and other financing arrangements, please see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Loan Arrangements.” Our loan agreements and other financing arrangements contain, and we expect that other future loan agreements and financing arrangements will contain, restrictive covenants that may limit our liquidity and corporate activities, which could limit our operational flexibility and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, because of the presence of cross-default provisions in our loan agreements and financing arrangements, a default by us under one loan agreement or financing arrangement could lead to defaults under multiple loans and financing agreements. Our loan agreements and other financial arrangements contain, and we expect that other future loan agreements and financing arrangements will contain, customary covenants and event of default clauses, financial covenants, restrictive covenants and performance requirements, which may affect operational and financial flexibility. Such restrictions could affect, and in many respects limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability to pay dividends, incur additional indebtedness, create liens, sell assets, or engage in mergers or acquisitions. These restrictions could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet extraordinary capital needs or otherwise restrict corporate activities. There can be no assurance that such restrictions will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs. As a result of these restrictions, we may need to seek permission from our lenders and other financing counterparties in order to engage in some corporate actions. Our lenders’ and other financing counterparties’ interests may be different from ours and we may not be able to obtain their permission when needed. This may prevent us from taking actions that we believe are in our best interests, which may adversely impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition. A failure by us to meet our payment and other obligations, including our financial covenants and any security coverage requirements, could lead to defaults under our financing arrangements. Likewise, a decrease in vessel values or adverse market conditions could cause us to breach our financial covenants or security requirements (the market values of dry bulk vessels have generally experienced high volatility). In the event of a default that we cannot remedy, our lenders and other financing counterparties could then accelerate their indebtedness and foreclose on the respective vessels in our fleet. The loss of any of our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Because of the presence of cross-default provisions in our loan agreements and financing agreements, a default by us under a loan or financing agreement and the refusal of any lender or financing counterparty to grant or extend a waiver could result in the acceleration of our indebtedness under our other loans and financing agreements. A cross-default provision means that if we default on one loan, we would then default on our other loans containing a cross-default provision. In the recent past, we have obtained waivers, deferrals and amendments of certain financial covenants, payment obligations and events of default under our loan facilities with our lenders. However, there can be no assurance that we will obtain similar waivers and deferrals from our lenders in the future, if needed, as we have obtained in the past. For more information regarding our current loan facilities and other financing arrangements, please see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Loan Arrangements.” We depend on officers and directors who are associated with United Maritime Corporation, of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (“United”), which may create conflicts of interest. Our officers and directors have fiduciary duties to manage our business in a manner beneficial to us and our shareholders. However, Stamatios Tsantanis, who serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United. In addition, Stavros Gyftakis, who serves as our Chief Financial Officer, is the Chief Financial Officer and a director of United. Christina Anagnostara and Ioannis Kartsonas, who serve as independent directors for us, also serve as independent directors of United. These officers and directors have fiduciary duties and responsibilities to manage the business of United in a manner beneficial to it and its shareholders and may have conflicts of interest in matters involving or affecting us and our customers or shareholders, or when faced with decisions that could have different implications for United than they do for us. The resolution of these potential conflicts may not always be in our best interest or that of our shareholders and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. 28 Table of Contents If we fail to manage our planned growth properly, we may not be able to successfully expand our market share. We currently own or finance lease 18 Capesize vessels and two Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels. In addition we have five newbuilding vessels under construction, four Capesize and one Newcastlemax, while we have agreed to sell one Capesize vessel. Moreover, we may acquire additional vessels in the future. Our ability to manage our growth will primarily depend on our ability to: • generate excess cash flow so that we can invest without jeopardizing our ability to cover current and foreseeable working capital needs, including debt service; • finance our operations; • locate and acquire suitable vessels; • identify and consummate acquisitions or joint ventures; • integrate any acquired businesses or vessels successfully with our existing operations; • hire, train and retain qualified personnel and crew to manage and operate our growing business and fleet; and • expand our customer base. Growing any business by acquisitions presents numerous risks such as obtaining acquisition financing on acceptable terms or at all, undisclosed liabilities and obligations, difficulty in obtaining additional qualified personnel, managing relationships with customers and suppliers and integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. We may not be successful in executing our growth plans and we may incur significant additional expenses and losses in connection therewith. Vessel aging, and purchasing and operating secondhand vessels, such as our current fleet, may result in increased operating costs and vessel off-hire, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. All of the vessels in our fleet are secondhand vessels. Our inspection of these or other secondhand vessels we may acquire prior to purchase does not provide us with the same knowledge about their condition and the cost of any required or anticipated repairs that we would have had if these vessels had been built for and operated exclusively by us. We have not received in the past, and do not expect to receive in the future, the benefit of warranties on any secondhand vessels we acquire. As the vessels in our fleet or other secondhand vessels we may acquire age, they may become less fuel efficient and costlier to maintain and will not be as advanced as recently constructed vessels due to improvements in design, technology and engineering, including improvements required to comply with government regulations. Rates for cargo insurance, paid by charterers, also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers, which could result in the lower utilization and, therefore, lower revenues. In addition, charterers actively discriminate against hiring older vessels. Rightship, the ship vetting service founded by Rio Tinto and BHP-Billiton, has become a major vetting service in the dry bulk shipping industry, which ranks the suitability of vessels based on a scale of one to five stars. There are carriers that may not charter a vessel that Rightship has vetted with fewer than three stars. Therefore, a potentially deteriorated star rating for our vessels may affect their commercial operation and profitability and vessels in our fleet with lower ratings may experience challenges in securing charters. Rightship has lowered its vessel inspection age trigger for a dry cargo inspection, after which an annual acceptable Rightship inspection will be required, for vessels over 8,000 dwt from 14 to 10 years with a phased rollout through 1 January 2027. Rightship may downgrade any vessel that does have an acceptable Rightship inspection as per the rollout schedule, to Safety Score 2, which significantly decreases its chances of entering into a charter. Two, fifteen and two vessels in our operating fleet have three, four and five-star risk ratings from Rightship, respectively. Governmental regulations and safety or other equipment standards related to the age or condition of vessels may require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which the vessels may engage. As our vessels age, market conditions may not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives. In addition, unless we maintain cash reserves for vessel replacement, we may be unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their useful lives. We estimate the useful life of our vessels to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard. Our cash flows and income are dependent on the revenues we earn by chartering our vessels to customers. If we are unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their useful lives, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected. Any reserves set aside for vessel replacement would not be available for other cash needs or dividends. 29 Table of Contents Volatility of SOFR and potential changes of the use of SOFR as a benchmark could affect our profitability, earnings, and cash flow. All of our loan and sale and leaseback agreements bear floating rate interest linked either to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or Term SOFR. An increase in the SOFR, would affect the amount of interest payable under our existing debt, which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings, cash flow, and ability to pay dividends. If SOFR performs differently than expected or if our lenders insist on a different reference rate to replace SOFR, that could increase our borrowing costs (and administrative costs to reflect the transaction), which would have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings, and cash flows. Alternative reference rates may behave in a similar manner or have other disadvantages or advantages in relation to our future indebtedness and the transition to SOFR or other alternative reference rates in the future could have a material adverse effect on us. In order to manage any future exposure to interest rate fluctuations, we may from time-to-time use interest rate derivatives to effectively fix any floating rate debt obligations. No assurance can, however, be given that the use of these derivative instruments, if any, may effectively protect us from adverse interest rate movements. The use of interest rate derivatives may affect our results through mark to market valuation of these derivatives. Also, adverse movements in interest rate derivatives may require us to post cash as collateral, which may impact our free cash position, and have the potential to cause us to breach covenants in our loan agreements that require maintenance of certain financial positions and ratios. Interest rate derivatives may also be impacted by the transition to SOFR or to other alternative rates. The failure of our current or future counterparties to meet their obligations under our current or future contracts, including any charter agreements, could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business. We have entered, and plan to enter, into various contracts, including charterparties with our customers, vessel management agreements and other agreements, which subject us to counterparty risks. The ability and willingness of each of our current or future counterparties to perform its obligations under charter agreements with us will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the dry bulk shipping industry and the industries in which our counterparties operate, the overall financial condition of the counterparties, and the supply and demand for dry bulk commodities. From time to time, those counterparties may account for a significant amount of our chartering activity and revenues. In addition, in challenging market conditions, there have been reports of charterers renegotiating their charters or defaulting on their obligations under charter agreements, and so our customers may fail to pay charter hire or attempt to renegotiate charter rates. Should a charterer fail to honor its obligations to us, it may be difficult to secure substitute employment for such vessel on favorable terms or at all, and any new charter arrangements we secure in the spot market or on time charters could be at lower rates. If our charterers fail to meet their obligations to us or attempt to renegotiate our charter agreements, we could suffer significant losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Rising crew costs may adversely affect our profits. Crew costs are anticipated to be a major expense for us. The growing global shipping fleet has led to higher demand for highly skilled and qualified crew, driving crewing costs upward. If we are unable to raise our rates accordingly, these rising costs could negatively impact our profitability. We may not be able to attract and retain key management personnel and other employees in the shipping industry, which may negatively affect the effectiveness of our management and our results of operation. Our success will depend to a significant extent upon the abilities and efforts of our management team, including our ability to retain key members of our management team and the ability of our management to recruit and hire suitable employees. The loss of any of these individuals could adversely affect our business prospects and financial condition. Difficulty in hiring and retaining personnel could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Our vessels may suffer damage, and we may face unexpected repair costs, which could adversely affect our cash flow and financial condition. The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks, which include the risk of the vessel or its cargo being damaged or lost because of events such as marine disasters, bad weather and other acts of God, business interruptions caused by mechanical failures, grounding, fire, explosions and collisions, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, labor strikes, boycotts and other similar circumstances or events. 30 Table of Contents If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a shipyard facility. The time and costs of repairs are unpredictable and may be substantial. The loss of earnings while our vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs and any repositioning costs, would decrease our earnings and reduce the amount of any dividends in the future. We may also be unable to find space at a suitable drydocking facility and be forced to travel to a drydocking facility that is not conveniently located to the position of our vessels. For more information see “—Risks associated with operating ocean-going vessels could affect our business and reputation, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses.” We may not have insurance that is sufficient to cover all or any of these costs or losses and may have to pay repair costs not covered by our insurance. We are exposed to U.S. dollar and foreign currency fluctuations and devaluations that could harm our reported revenue and results of operations. We generate all of our revenues and incur the majority of our operating expenses in U.S. dollars, but we currently incur many of our general and administration expenses in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the euro. Because such portion of our expenses is incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our expenses may from time to time increase relative to our revenues as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly between the U.S. dollar and the euro, which could affect the amount of net income that we report in future periods. We may use financial derivatives to operationally hedge some of our currency exposure. Our use of financial derivatives involves certain risks, including the risk that losses on a hedged position could exceed the nominal amount invested in the instrument and the risk that the counterparty to the derivative transaction may be unable or unwilling to satisfy its contractual obligations, which could have an adverse effect on our results. We maintain cash with a limited number of financial institutions, which may subject us to credit risk. We maintain all of our cash with a limited number of financial institutions mostly located in Europe. Generally, only a portion of these cash balances are covered by insurance in the event of default by a financial institution. Several banks, including banks in the United States and Switzerland, have in the past been subject to extraordinary resolution procedures or sale because of the risk of such a default. In the event of such a default of a financial institution, we may lose part or all of our cash that we hold deposited with such financial institution. We are a holding company and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute funds to us in order to satisfy financial obligations or to pay dividends. We are a holding company and our subsidiaries, which are all wholly owned by us either directly or indirectly, conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the equity interests in our wholly owned subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make dividend payments depends on our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of a subsidiary to make these distributions could be affected by the covenants in our loan agreements, a claim or other action by a third party, including a creditor, and the laws of the Republic of Liberia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Malta, where our vessel-owning or other subsidiaries are incorporated, which regulate the payment of dividends by companies. If we are unable to obtain funds from our subsidiaries, we may not be able to satisfy our financial obligations. In addition to its earnings, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, the ability of a subsidiary to make distributions to us could be affected by the covenants in our future loan agreements or other financing arrangements, a claim or other action by a third party, including a creditor, and the laws of its country of incorporation. If we are unable to obtain funds from our subsidiaries, we may not be able to satisfy our financial obligations and, consequently, our board of directors may exercise its discretion not to declare or pay any dividend. In the highly competitive international shipping industry, we may not be able to compete for charters with new entrants or established companies with greater resources, which may adversely affect our results of operations. We operate in a highly competitive market that is capital intensive and highly fragmented. Competition arises primarily from other independent and state-owned dry bulk vessel owners, some of whom may have substantially greater resources than we do. Competition for the transportation of dry bulk cargoes by sea is intense and depends on price, location, size, age, condition and the acceptability of the vessel and its operators to the charterers. Due in part to the highly fragmented market, competitors with greater resources could enter the dry bulk shipping industry and operate larger fleets through consolidations or acquisitions and may be able to offer lower charter rates and higher quality vessels than we are able to offer. Although we believe that no single competitor has a dominant position in the markets in which we compete, we are aware that certain competitors may be able to devote greater financial and other resources to their activities than we can, resulting in a significant competitive threat to us. We cannot give assurances that we will continue to compete successfully with our competitors or that these factors will not erode our competitive position in the future. 31 Table of Contents Due to our lack of fleet diversification, adverse developments in the maritime dry bulk shipping industry would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. Our business currently depends on the transportation of dry bulk commodities. We currently own or finance lease 18 Capesize vessels and two Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels. In addition, we have five newbuilding vessels under construction, four Capesize and one Newcastlemax, while we have agreed to sell one Capesize vessel. Our current lack of diversification could make us vulnerable to adverse developments in the maritime dry bulk shipping industry and demand for Capesize vessels in particular, which would have a significantly greater impact on our business, financial condition and operating results than it would if we maintained more diverse assets or lines of business. We have been and may in the future be subject to litigation that, if not resolved in our favor and not sufficiently insured against, could have a material adverse effect on us. From time to time, we may be involved in legal proceedings which may include shareholder litigation, contract claims, regulatory matters, other claims associated with our operations, as well as other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In March 2024, a shareholder filed a lawsuit in the High Court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands against the Company and its board, which was dismissed in October 2024 on multiple grounds. In February 2026 the Marshall Islands Supreme Court upheld the dismissal and the litigation is now concluded. Legal proceedings, regardless of merit, can be time-consuming, costly, and divert management’s attention from strategic priorities. Although we intend to defend any such matters vigorously, any unfavorable ultimate ruling or settlement could result in financial obligations, reputational impact, or regulatory considerations, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operations, or business strategy us. While we maintain insurance coverage where applicable, subject to customary deductibles, there is no guarantee it will be applicable or sufficiently cover litigation costs or potential liabilities. The shipping industry has inherent operational risks that may not be adequately covered by our insurances. Further, because we obtain some of our insurances through protection and indemnity associations, we have been and may in the future be retrospectively subject to calls or premiums in amounts based not only on our own claim records, but also on the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations. We procure insurance for our fleet against risks commonly insured against by vessel owners and operators. Our current insurances include hull and machinery insurance, war risks insurance, demurrage and defense insurance and protection and indemnity insurance (which includes environmental damage and pollution insurance). We do not expect to maintain for our vessels insurance against loss of hire, which covers business interruptions that result from the loss of use of a vessel, except in cases when our vessels transit through or call at high risk areas. We may not be adequately insured against all risks or our insurers may not pay a particular claim. Even if our insurance coverage is adequate to cover our losses, we may not be able to timely obtain a replacement vessel in the event of a loss. Furthermore, in the future, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates for our fleet. Our insurance policies also contain deductibles, limitations and exclusions which, although we believe are standard in the shipping industry, may nevertheless increase our costs. If our insurances are not enough to cover claims that may arise, the deficiency may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We have been and may in the future be retrospectively subject to calls, or premiums, in amounts based not only on our own claim records but also the claim records of all other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive indemnity insurance coverage for tort liability, including pollution-related liability. In the past, we paid approximately $0.3 million in response to these calls, and our payment of such calls in the future could result in significant expenses to us. Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or FCPA, could result in fines, criminal penalties, and an adverse effect on our business. We operate throughout the world, including in countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics which is consistent and in full compliance with the FCPA. We are subject, however, to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or our or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take actions determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Furthermore, detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management. 32 Table of Contents We partly depend on third-party technical, crew and commercial managers for technical, crew and commercial management of our ships. Our operations could be negatively affected if third-party managers fail to perform their services satisfactorily. Seanergy Shipmanagement Corp., or Seanergy Shipmanagement, our wholly owned ship management subsidiary, provides technical management services to the majority of the vessels in our fleet, namely the M/Vs Fellowship, Friendship, Knightship, Lordship, Worldship, Hellasship, Partnership, Flagship, Patriotship, Honorship, Premiership, Squireship, Kaizenship, Meiship, Iconship and Championship. In addition, Seanergy Shipmanagement may undertake the technical management for the remaining vessels of our fleet in the future. Seanergy Management Corp., or Seanergy Management, our wholly owned management subsidiary, provides us with certain other management services. Moreover, we also depend on third-party technical, crew and commercial managers. V.Ships Greece provides us with certain technical, general administrative and support services (including vessel maintenance, crewing, purchasing, shipyard supervision, assistance with regulatory compliance, accounting related to vessels and provisions) for the M/Vs Friendship, Paroship, Titanship and Blueship. V.Ships Greece provides crew management services to the M/Vs Lordship, Knightship, Premiership and Squireship. Global Seaways provides crew management services to the M/Vs Worldship, Hellasship, Partnership, Flagship, Patriotship, Honorship, Kaizenship and Iconship. Navilands provides crew management services to the M/Vs Fellowship, Championship and Meiship. Fidelity provides us with commercial management services for our vessels. Our operational success partly depends upon V.Ships Greece’s, Global Seaways’, Navilands’ and Fidelity’s satisfactory performance of these services. Our business would be harmed if V.Ships Greece, Global Seaways, Navilands or Fidelity failed to perform these services satisfactorily. In addition, if our management agreements with any of these third parties were to be terminated or if their terms were to be altered, our business could be adversely affected, as we may not be able to immediately replace such services, and even if replacement services were immediately available, the terms offered could be less favorable than those under our existing management agreements. In addition, our ability to compete for and enter into new period time and spot charters and to expand our relationships with our existing charterers depends significantly on our relationship with our third-party commercial manager, Fidelity. If Fidelity fails to perform its obligations, it may harm our ability to renew existing charters upon their expiration, obtain new charters, and maintain satisfactory relationships with our charterers and suppliers. The failure of our third-party managers to perform their obligations satisfactorily could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Because our third-party managers are each privately held companies, we and our shareholders might have little advance warning of financial or other problems affecting them even though their financial or other problems could have a material adverse effect on us. Although we may have rights against our third-party managers if they default on their obligations to us, our shareholders will share that recourse only indirectly to the extent that we recover funds. Management fees will be payable to our managers regardless of our profitability, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Pursuant to our technical and crew management agreements we pay management fees to our managers as described in “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview – Management of our fleet” in exchange for provision of technical, support and administrative services. The management fees do not cover expenses such as voyage expenses, vessel operating expenses, maintenance expenses and crewing costs, for which we reimburse the technical manager. The management fees are payable whether or not our vessels are employed and regardless of our profitability, and we have no ability to require our managers to reduce the management fees if our profitability decreases, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our common stock. A foreign corporation will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income” or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation’s assets produce or are held for the production of those types of “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property, and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC. 33 Table of Contents Based upon our current and anticipated method of operations, we do not believe that we should be a PFIC with respect to our 2025 taxable year, and we do not expect to become a PFIC in 2026 or any future taxable year. In this regard, we intend to treat our gross income from time charters as active services income, rather than rental income. Accordingly, our income from our time chartering activities should not constitute “passive income,” and the assets that we own and operate in connection with the production of that income should not constitute passive assets. There is substantial legal authority supporting this position including case law and U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, it should be noted that there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court of law will accept this position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if the nature and extent of our operations change. If the IRS were to find that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year, our U.S. shareholders would face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain information reporting requirements. Under the PFIC rules, unless those shareholders make an election available under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, or the Code (which election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders), such shareholders would be liable to pay U.S. federal income tax at the then prevailing income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of their shares of our common stock, as if the excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder’s holding period of the shares of our common stock. See “Item 10. Additional Information – E. Taxation – United States Federal Income Tax Consequences – United States Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders – Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” for a more comprehensive discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders if we are treated as a PFIC. We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income, which would reduce our earnings. Under the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel-owning or chartering corporation, such as us and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States, exclusive of certain U.S. territories and possessions, or “U.S. source gross shipping income” may be subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. We believe that we qualify for exemption from the 4% tax under Section 883 of the Code for our 2025 taxable year. However, there are factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us not to have the benefit of the tax exemption under Section 883 in 2026 or future years and thereby cause us to become subject to U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. source shipping income. For example, there is a risk that we could fail to qualify for exemption under Section 883 of the Code for a particular taxable year if “non-qualified” shareholders with a five percent or greater interest in our common shares were, in combination with each other, to own 50% or more of our outstanding common shares on more than half the days during the taxable year. See the description of the ownership tests which must be satisfied to qualify for exemption under Section 883 of the Code in “Item 10. Additional Information – E. Taxation – United States Federal Income Tax Consequences – Exemption of Operating Income from United States Federal Income Taxation.” Because the availability of the exemption depends on factual circumstances beyond our control, we can give no assurances on the tax-exempt status of ourselves or that of any of our subsidiaries for our 2026 or subsequent taxable years. If we or our subsidiaries are not entitled to exemption under Section 883, we or our subsidiaries will be subject to the 4% U.S. federal income tax on 50% of any shipping income such companies derive that is attributable to the transport of cargoes to or from the United States. This tax is a cost, which, if unreimbursed, has a negative effect on our business and results in decreased earnings available for distribution to our shareholders. We may be subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which we or our vessel-owning or management subsidiaries are incorporated or operate. In addition to the tax consequences discussed herein, we may be subject to tax in one or more other jurisdictions where we or our subsidiaries are incorporated or conduct activities. We are subject to a corporate flat rate tax for our subsidiaries in Malta for the period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and could be subject to additional taxation in the future in Malta or other jurisdictions where our subsidiaries are incorporated or do business. The amount of any such tax imposed upon our operations or on our subsidiaries’ operations may be material and could have an adverse effect on our earnings. 34 Table of Contents We are a “foreign private issuer,” which could make our Common Shares less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price. We are a “foreign private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. As a “foreign private issuer” the rules governing the information that we disclose differ from those governing U.S. corporations pursuant to the Exchange Act. We are not required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or provide current reports on Form 8-K disclosing significant events within four days of their occurrence. On December 18, 2025, the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, mandating directors and officers, of foreign private issuers to file Section 16(a) reports (Forms 3, 4, and 5) with the SEC to report beneficial ownership interests in companies, effective on March 18, 2026. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related rules with respect to their purchase and sales of our securities. Our exemption from certain provisions of the rules of Section 16 of the Exchange Act regarding sales of Common Shares by insiders means that you may have less data in this regard than shareholders of U.S. companies that are subject to the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are exempt from the proxy rules, and proxy statements that we distribute will not be subject to review by the SEC. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there is for other U.S. public companies that are not foreign private issuers. These exemptions and scaled disclosure requirements are not related to our status as an emerging growth company and will continue to be available to us even if we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company but remain a foreign private issuer. These factors could make our Common Shares less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price. On June 4, 2025, the SEC issued a concept release seeking public comment on whether to amend the current eligibility criteria for foreign private issuer status under the U.S. securities laws to better balance investor protection and capital formation. This marks the first comprehensive review of the FPI regulatory framework since 2008 and signals a potential material shift in the FPI regulatory framework. While no rule changes have been proposed yet, any future amendments could impact our eligibility to qualify as a foreign private issuer. We could lose our foreign private issuer status under U.S. securities laws. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher. We would then also be required to file periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. We may then also be required to modify certain of our policies to comply with good or required governance practices associated with U.S. domestic issuers. Such conversion and modifications will involve additional costs. Our corporate governance practices are in compliance with, and are not prohibited by, the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and as such we are entitled to exemption from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards. As a result, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. Our Company’s corporate governance practices are in compliance with, and are not prohibited by, the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Therefore, we are exempt from many of Nasdaq’s corporate governance practices other than the requirements regarding the disclosure of a going concern audit option, submission of a listing agreement, notification of material non-compliance with Nasdaq corporate governance practices, and the establishment and composition of an audit committee and a formal written audit committee charter. For a list of the practices followed by us in lieu of Nasdaq’s corporate governance rules, we refer you to “Item 16G. Corporate Governance” in this annual report. To the extent we rely on these or other exemptions our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. We conduct business in China, where the legal system is not fully developed and has inherent uncertainties that could limit the legal protections available to us. Our vessels may be chartered to Chinese customers and from time to time on our charterers’ instructions, our vessels and other vessels we may acquire may call on Chinese ports. Such charters and voyages may be subject to regulations in China that may require us to incur new or additional compliance or other administrative costs and may require that we pay to the Chinese government new taxes or other fees. Applicable laws and regulations in China may not be well publicized and may not be known to us or our charterers in advance of us or our charterers becoming subject to them, and the implementation of such laws and regulations may be inconsistent. Changes in Chinese laws and regulations, including with regards to tax matters, or changes in their implementation by local authorities, could affect our vessels and other vessels we may acquire if chartered to Chinese customers as well as our vessels and other vessels we may acquire calling to Chinese ports and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations. 35 Table of Contents Changing laws and evolving reporting requirements could have an adverse effect on our business. Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to reporting requirements, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which related to the collection, use, retention, security, processing and transfer of personally identifiable information about our customers and employees, may create additional compliance requirements for us. To maintain high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure, we have invested in, and continue to invest in, reasonably necessary resources to comply with evolving standards. GDPR broadens the scope of personal privacy laws to protect the rights of European Union citizens and requires organizations to report on data breaches within 72 hours and be bound by more stringent rules for obtaining the consent of individuals on how their data can be used. Non-compliance with GDPR or other data privacy laws may expose entities to significant fines or other regulatory claims which could have an adverse effect on our business, and results of operations. A cyber-attack could materially disrupt our business. We rely on information technology systems and networks in our operations and administration of our business. Information systems are vulnerable to security breaches by computer hackers and cyber terrorists. The safety and security of our vessels as well as our business operations could be targeted by individuals or groups seeking to sabotage or disrupt our information technology systems and networks, or to steal data. Despite our cybersecurity measures, a successful cyber-attack, including as a result of spam, targeted phishing type emails and ransomware attacks, or other breaches of or significant interruption or failure of our information technology systems, could materially disrupt our operations and their safety, or lead to unauthorized release of information or alteration of information in our systems. The evolution of artificial intelligence capabilities may lead to new or more effective cyber-attack methods, including fraud, phishing or information theft enabled by “deep-fake” technology using generative artificial intelligence tools. Any such attack or other breach of or significant interruption or failure of our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, the unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and could result in decreased performance and increased operating costs, causing our business and results of operations to suffer. Additionally, recent action by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and United States agencies indicates that cybersecurity regulations for the maritime industry are likely to be further developed in the near future in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. For example, effective January 2021, cyber-risk management systems must be incorporated by shipowners and managers. Any changes in the nature of cyber threats might require us to adopt additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures. The war between Russia and Ukraine has been accompanied by cyber-attacks against the Ukrainian government and other countries in the region. It is possible that these attacks could have collateral effects on additional critical infrastructure and financial institutions globally, which could adversely affect our operations. We rely on industry-accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential and proprietary information maintained on our information systems. However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent security breaches and, therefore, it is difficult to assess the likelihood of such threat and any potential impact at this time. In July 2023, the SEC adopted rules requiring the mandatory disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents, as well as cybersecurity governance and risk management practices. A failure to disclosure could result in the imposition of injunctions, fines and other penalties by the SEC. Complying with these obligations could cause us to incur substantial costs and could increase negative publicity surrounding any cybersecurity incident. The smuggling of drugs or other contraband onto our vessels may lead to governmental claims against us. Our vessels may call in ports in South America and other areas where smugglers attempt to hide drugs and other contraband on vessels, with or without the knowledge of crew members. Under some jurisdictions, vessels used for the conveyance of illegal drugs could subject such vessels to forfeiture to the government of these jurisdictions. To the extent our vessels are found with contraband, whether inside or attached to the hull of our vessels and whether with or without the knowledge of any member of our crew, we may face reputational damage and governmental or other regulatory claims or penalties which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, as well as our ability to maintain cash flows, including cash available for distributions to pay dividends to our shareholders. 36 Table of Contents The international nature of our operations may make the outcome of any potential bankruptcy proceedings difficult to predict. The Marshall Islands has passed an act implementing the U.N. Commission on Internal Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, or the Model Law. The adoption of the Model Law is intended to implement effective mechanisms for dealing with issues related to cross-border insolvency proceedings and encourages cooperation and coordination between jurisdictions. Notably, the Model Law does not alter the substantive insolvency laws of any jurisdiction and does not create a bankruptcy code in the Marshall Islands. Instead, the implementing act allows for the recognition by the Marshall Islands of foreign insolvency proceedings, the provision of foreign creditors with access to courts in the Marshall Islands, and the cooperation with foreign courts. Consequently, in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings involving us or one of our subsidiaries, bankruptcy laws other than those of the United States could apply. We have limited operations in the United States. If we become a debtor under the United States bankruptcy laws, bankruptcy courts in the United States may seek to assert jurisdiction over all of our assets, wherever located, including property situated in other countries. There can be no assurance, however, that courts in other countries that have jurisdiction over us and our operations would recognize a United States bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction if any other bankruptcy court would determine it had jurisdiction. Risks Relating to Our Common Shares We may issue additional common shares or other equity securities without shareholder approval, which would dilute our existing shareholders’ ownership interests and may depress the market price of our common shares. We may issue additional common shares or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future without shareholder approval in connection with, among other things, future vessel acquisitions, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, and the conversion of convertible financial instruments. Our issuance of additional common shares or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in these situations would have the following effects: • our existing shareholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us would decrease; • the proportionate amount of cash available for dividends payable per common share could decrease; • the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common share could be diminished; and • the market price of our common shares could decline. In addition, we may from time to time issue and sell up to an aggregate amount of $25.1 million of common shares pursuant to the ATM Sales Agreement we have entered into with B. Riley Securities, Inc., as sales agent, as amended to date, as described on our Form 6-K filed with the Commission on December 15, 2023. The market price of our common shares has been and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuations. Further, there is no guarantee of a continuing public market to resell our common shares. The market price of our common shares has been and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuations as a result of many factors, some of which are beyond our control. Among the factors that have in the past and could in the future affect our stock price are: • quarterly variations in our results of operations; • changes in market valuations of similar companies and stock market price and volume fluctuations generally; • changes in earnings estimates or the publication of research reports by analysts; • speculation in the press or investment community about our business or the shipping industry generally; • strategic actions by us or our competitors such as acquisitions or restructurings; • the thin trading market for our common shares, which makes it somewhat illiquid; • regulatory developments; • additions or departures of key personnel; • general market conditions; and • domestic and international economic, market and currency factors unrelated to our performance. 37 Table of Contents On December 31, 2025, the closing price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $9.23 per share, as compared to $12.04, which was the closing price on March 27, 2026. In addition, there has from time to time in the past been significant volatility in our trading volumes on the Nasdaq Capital Market and volatility in our intra-day common share price. As a result, there is a potential for rapid and substantial decreases in the price of our common shares, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects. The stock markets in general, and the markets for dry bulk shipping and shipping stocks in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume volatility that has sometimes been unrelated to the operating performance of individual companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common shares. Additionally, there is no guarantee of a continuing public market to resell our common shares. Our common shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on October 15, 2008. Since December 21, 2012, our common shares have traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We cannot assure you that an active and liquid public market for our common shares will continue. On August 1, 2022, we received written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market indicating that because the closing bid price of our common stock for 30 consecutive business days, from June 16, 2022 to July 29, 2022, was below the minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the applicable grace period to regain compliance was 180 days, or until January 30, 2023. On January 31, 2023, we received written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market, indicating that we were granted an additional 180-day grace period, until July 31, 2023, to cure our non-compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). On February 16, 2023, we conducted a 1-for-10 reverse stock split. On March 6, 2023, we announced that the Nasdaq Stock Market confirmed that we regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) concerning the minimum bid price of the Company’s common stock and this matter is now closed. A possible “short squeeze” due to a sudden increase in demand of our common stock that largely exceeds supply may lead to further price volatility in our common shares. Investors may purchase our common shares to hedge existing exposure in our common shares or to speculate on the price of our common shares. Speculation on the price of our common shares may involve long and short exposures. To the extent aggregate short exposure exceeds the number of common shares available for purchase in the open market, investors with short exposure may have to pay a premium to repurchase our common shares for delivery to lenders of our common shares. Those repurchases may in turn, dramatically increase the price of our common shares until investors with short exposure are able to purchase additional common shares to cover their short position. This is often referred to as a “short squeeze.” Following such a short squeeze, once investors purchase the shares necessary to cover their short position, the price of our common shares may rapidly decline. A short squeeze could lead to volatile price movements in our shares that are not directly correlated to the performance or prospects of our Company. We may not have the surplus or net profits required by law to pay dividends. The declaration and payment of dividends will always be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors. Our board of directors may not declare dividends in the future. The declaration, timing and amount of any dividend is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon our earnings, financial condition, market prospects, capital expenditure requirements, investment opportunities, restrictions in our loan agreements, the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of dividends to shareholders, overall market conditions and other factors. Our board of directors may not declare dividends in the future. Further, Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the payment of dividends if the company is insolvent or would be rendered insolvent upon payment of such dividend, and dividends may be declared and paid out of our operating surplus. Dividends may also be declared or paid out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year. We may not have the required surplus or net profits to pay dividends, and we may be unable to pay dividends in any anticipated amount or at all. The superior voting rights of our Series B Preferred Shares may limit the ability of our common shareholders to control or influence corporate matters. While our common shares have one vote per share, each of our 20,000 Series B Preferred Shares presently outstanding has 25,000 votes per share; however, the voting power of the Series B Preferred Shares is limited such that no holder of Series B Preferred Shares may exercise voting rights pursuant to any Series B Preferred Shares that would result in the total number of votes a holder is entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Company to exceed 49.99% of the total number of votes eligible to be cast on such matter. The Series B Preferred Shares, however, have no dividend rights or distribution rights, other than the right upon dissolution to receive a payment equal to the par value per of $0.0001 per share. 38 Table of Contents As of the date of this annual report, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer can therefore control 49.99% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer may have substantial influence over our management and affairs and over matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, even though he owns less than 50% of the Company economically. The superior voting rights of our Series B Preferred Shares may limit our common shareholders’ ability to influence corporate matters. The interests of the holder of the Series B Preferred Shares may conflict with the interests of our common shareholders, and as a result, the holders of our capital stock may approve actions that our common shareholders may not view as beneficial. This could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and the trading price of our common shares. Anti-takeover provisions in our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and fourth amended and restated bylaws could make it difficult for our shareholders to replace or remove our current board of directors or could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition, which could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Several provisions of our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and fourth amended and restated bylaws may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire our Company. However, these anti-take-over provisions could make it difficult for our shareholders to change the composition of our board of directors in any one year, preventing them from changing the composition of our management. In addition, the same provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that some shareholders may consider favorable. These provisions: • authorize our board of directors to issue “blank check” preferred stock without shareholder approval, including preferred shares with superior voting rights, such as the Series B Preferred Shares; • provide for a classified board of directors with staggered, three-year terms; • permit the removal of any director only for cause; • prohibit shareholder action by written consent unless the written consent is signed by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action; • limit the persons who may call special meetings of shareholders; and • establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by shareholders at meetings of shareholders. In addition, we have entered into an amended and restated shareholders’ rights agreement that makes it more difficult for a third party to acquire us without the support of our board of directors. See “Description of Securities” filed as Exhibit 2.6 hereto for a description of our amended and restated shareholders rights agreement. These anti-takeover provisions, along with provisions of our amended and restated shareholders rights agreement, could substantially impede the ability of our shareholders to impose a change in control and, as a result, may adversely affect the market price of our common shares and your ability to realize any potential change of control premium. Issuance of preferred shares, such as our Series B Preferred Shares, may adversely affect the voting power of our common shareholders and have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition, which could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, currently authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, with respect to, among other things, dividends, conversion, voting, redemption, liquidation and the number of shares constituting any series without shareholders’ approval. Our board of directors has issued, and may in the future issue, preferred shares with voting rights superior to those of the common shares, such as the Series B Preferred Shares. If our board of directors determines to issue preferred shares, such issuance may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that shareholders may consider favorable. The issuance of preferred shares with voting and conversion rights may also adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common shares. This could substantially impede the ability of public shareholders to benefit from a change in control and, as a result, may adversely affect the market price of our common shares and our shareholders’ ability to realize any potential change of control premium. 39 Table of Contents We are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law, which may negatively affect the ability of shareholders to protect their interests. Our corporate affairs are governed by our restated articles of incorporation, as amended, our fourth amended and restated bylaws and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or the BCA. The provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in the Republic of the Marshall Islands interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in certain U.S. jurisdictions. Shareholder rights may differ as well. While the BCA does specifically incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial case law, of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by the management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction. Additionally, the Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a legal provision for bankruptcy or a general statutory mechanism for insolvency proceedings. As such, in the event of a future insolvency or bankruptcy, our shareholders and creditors may experience delays in their ability to recover for their claims after any such insolvency or bankruptcy. Further, in the event of any bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding involving us or any of our subsidiaries, bankruptcy laws other than those of the United States could apply. If we become a debtor under U.S. bankruptcy law, bankruptcy courts in the United States may seek to assert jurisdiction over all of our assets, wherever located, including property situated in other countries. There can be no assurance, however, that we would become a debtor in the United States, or that a U.S. bankruptcy court would be entitled to, or accept, jurisdiction over such a bankruptcy case, or that courts in other countries that have jurisdiction over us and our operations would recognize a U.S. bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction if any other bankruptcy court would determine it had jurisdiction. We may fail to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, which could cause our common shares to be delisted. There can be no assurance that we will remain in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing qualification rules, or that our common shares will not be delisted, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our common shares and could cause a default under our loan facilities and other financing agreements. As a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices in Greece, and also having subsidiaries in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and other offshore jurisdictions such as the Republic of Liberia, our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements. The Council of the European Union, or the Council, routinely publishes a list of “non-cooperative jurisdictions” for tax purposes, which includes countries that the Council believes need to improve their legal framework and to work towards compliance with international standards in taxation. In 2019, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, among others, was placed by the EU on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for failing to implement certain commitments previously made to the EU by the agreed deadline. However, the Republic of the Marshall Islands was removed from the list of noncooperative jurisdictions within 2019. In February 2023, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (among others) was placed by the EU on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for lacking in the enforcement of economic substance requirement and was subsequently removed from such list in October 2023. EU member states have agreed upon a set of measures, which they can choose to apply against the listed countries, including, increased monitoring and audits, withholding taxes and non-deductibility of costs. Although we are not currently aware of any such measures being adopted, they can be adopted by one or more EU members states in the future. The European Commission has stated it will continue to support member states’ efforts to develop a more coordinated approach to sanctions for the listed countries. EU legislation prohibits certain EU funds from being channeled or transited through entities in non-cooperative jurisdictions. We are a Marshall Islands corporation with principal executive offices in Greece. Most of our subsidiaries are organized in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Liberia. The Marshall Islands has enacted economic substance regulations relating to, inter alia, shipping business activities, with which we could be obligated to comply. The Marshall Islands economic substance regulations require certain entities that carry out particular activities to comply with a three-part economic substance test whereby the entity must show that it (i) is directed and managed in the Marshall Islands in relation to that relevant activity, (ii) carries out core income-generating activity in relation to that relevant activity in the Marshall Islands (although it is being understood and acknowledged by the regulators that income-generating activities for shipping companies will generally occur in international waters) and (iii) having regard to the level of relevant activity carried out in the Marshall Islands has (a) an adequate amount of expenditures in the Marshall Islands, (b) adequate physical presence in the Marshall Islands and (c) an adequate number of qualified employees in the Marshall Islands. 40 Table of Contents If we fail to comply with our obligations under such regulations or any similar law applicable to us in any other jurisdictions, we could be subject to financial penalties and spontaneous disclosure of information to foreign tax officials, or with respect to the Marshall Islands economic substance requirements, revocation of the formation documents and dissolution of the applicable non-compliant Marshall Islands entity, or being struck from the register of companies. Any of the foregoing could be disruptive to our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and operating results. Accordingly, any implementation of, or changes to, any of the economic substance regulations that impact us could increase the complexity and costs of carrying on business in these jurisdictions, and thus could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We do not know (i) if the EU will once again add the Republic of the Marshall Islands or add the Republic of Liberia to, the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, (ii) what actions any such jurisdiction may take, if any, to remove itself from such list if it should be placed back on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, (iii) how quickly the EU would react to any changes in legislation of the relevant jurisdictions, or (iv) how EU banks or other counterparties will react while we or any of our subsidiaries remain as entities organized and existing under the laws of listed countries during a period if the jurisdictions are placed on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions. The effect of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, and any non-compliance by us with any legislation or regulations adopted by applicable countries to achieve removal from the list, including economic substance regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and operating results. Our fourth amended and restated bylaws provide that the High Court of the Republic of Marshall Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for certain disputes between us and our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees. Our fourth amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the High Court of the Republic of Marshall Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any shareholders’ derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the BCA (as amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This forum selection provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. We may not achieve the intended benefits of having a forum selection provision if it is found to be unenforceable. Our fourth amended and restated bylaws include a forum selection provision as described above. However, the enforceability of similar forum selection provisions in other companies’ governing documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that in connection with any action a court could find the forum selection provision contained in our fourth amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action. In particular, Section 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, Section 22 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Shareholders’ derivative actions, including those arising under the Exchange Act or Securities Act, are subject to our forum selection provision. To the extent that the exclusive forum provision would apply to restrict the courts in which our shareholders may bring claims arising under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision. Investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. If a court were to find the forum selection provision to be inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we could be required to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions, incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, or otherwise not receive the benefits that we expect our forum selection provisions to provide, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. It may not be possible for investors to serve process on or enforce U.S. judgments against us. We and all of our subsidiaries are incorporated in jurisdictions outside the U.S. and substantially all of our assets and those of our subsidiaries are located outside the U.S. In addition, most of our directors and officers are non-residents of the U.S., and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for U.S. investors to serve process within the U.S. upon us, our subsidiaries or our directors and officers or to enforce a judgment against us for civil liabilities in U.S. courts. In addition, you should not assume that courts in the countries in which we or our subsidiaries are incorporated or where our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries are located (1) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our subsidiaries based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (2) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our subsidiaries based on those laws. 41 Table of Contents