Safe Bulkers, Inc. Announces Agreement for the Acquisition of Two Newbuild Kamsarmax Class Dry-bulk Vessels
Rhea-AI Summary
Safe Bulkers (NYSE: SB) agreed to acquire two newbuild 82,500 dwt Kamsarmax dry-bulk vessels with scheduled deliveries in Q3 2028 and Q1 2029. The vessels are designed to meet IMO GHG EEDI Phase 3 and NOx-Tier III standards and are sister ships to existing fleet units with advanced energy efficiency and lower fuel consumption. The company already took delivery of 12 IMO GHG Phase 3 / NOx Tier III vessels. Including these two, Safe Bulkers’ outstanding orderbook totals 8 newbuilds (two methanol dual-fuel), with scheduled deliveries: 4 in 2026, 2 in 2027, 1 in 2028, and 1 in 2029.
Management frames the orders as part of a fleet renewal strategy to improve competitiveness and environmental efficiency.
Positive
- Two 82,500 dwt Kamsarmax vessels added to orderbook
- IMO GHG Phase 3 and NOx-Tier III compliance reduces regulatory risk
- 12 Phase 3 / NOx Tier III vessels already delivered to fleet
- Orderbook totals 8 newbuilds, including 2 methanol dual-fuel
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, SB gained 0.19%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
SB gained 3.29% while peers were mixed: ESEA fell 0.51%, ASC rose 0.67%, GNK 2.73%, PANL 2.29%, CMRE 2.26%. The move appears more company-specific than sector-wide.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 02 | Preferred dividends | Positive | +0.6% | Declared quarterly dividends on Series C and D preferred shares. |
| Dec 01 | Share repurchase | Positive | +0.8% | Authorized repurchase of up to 10,000,000 common shares. |
| Nov 25 | Earnings & dividend | Negative | -0.4% | Reported softer Q3 2025 results and declared common dividend. |
| Nov 19 | Earnings date | Neutral | -1.1% | Set release date and call details for Q3 2025 results. |
| Oct 07 | Conference participation | Neutral | -0.7% | Announced participation in a maritime investor forum. |
Recent corporate actions such as dividends, buybacks, and fleet renewal updates have generally seen modest but directionally consistent price reactions.
Over the last six months, Safe Bulkers reported softer Q3 2025 results with net revenues of $73.1M and net income of $17.8M, while continuing a fleet renewal program focused on IMO GHG Phase 3 – NOx Tier III newbuilds. The company complemented this with a buyback authorization for up to 10,000,000 shares and regular preferred and common dividends. Conference participation and earnings-date announcements had limited price impact. Today’s newbuild acquisition extends the same renewal and environmental efficiency strategy highlighted in prior filings.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement extends Safe Bulkers’ fleet renewal program with two 82,500 dwt Kamsarmax vessels, compliant with IMO GHG EEDI Phase 3 and NOx-Tier III standards, and adds to an orderbook of 8 newbuilds, including 2 methanol dual fuel ships. It builds on prior disclosures highlighting environmental upgrades and balance-sheet actions such as dividends and buybacks. Investors may watch future disclosures on charter contracts, funding structure for these vessels, and any updates to overall fleet size and age profile.
Key Terms
energy efficiency design index technical
nox-tier iii regulatory
kamsarmax technical
methanol dual fuel technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
MONACO, Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the Company) (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced today that it has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of two newbuild, 82,500 dwt, dry-bulk, Chinese, Kamsarmax class vessels, with scheduled delivery dates in the third quarter of 2028 and the first quarter of 2029.
The newbuild vessels are designed to meet the Phase 3 requirements of the Energy Efficiency Design Index related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (“IMO GHG -EEDI Phase 3”) as adopted by the International Maritime Organization, (“IMO”) and also comply with the latest NOx emissions regulation, NOx-Tier III (“NOx-Tier III”). The newbuild vessels are sister to existing vessels in our fleet with advanced energy efficiency characteristics resulting in lower fuel consumption.
The Company has already taken delivery of twelve IMO GHG Phase 3 – NOx Tier III vessels. Including this agreement, the Company has an outstanding orderbook of eight newbuild vessels, two of which are methanol dual fuel, with scheduled deliveries four in 2026, two in 2027, one in 2028 and one in 2029.
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President of the Company commented: “We have placed these newbuild orders consistent with our fleet renewal strategy, aiming to increase the competitiveness and resiliency of the Company and to own one of the most modern and environmentally efficient dry bulk fleets in the market.”
About Safe Bulkers, Inc.
The Company is an international provider of marine dry-bulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly grain, coal and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world’s largest users of marine dry-bulk transportation services. The Company’s common stock, series C preferred stock and series D preferred stock are listed on the NYSE, and trade under the symbols “SB”, “SB.PR.C”, and “SB.PR.D”, respectively.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company’s growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “hopes,” “estimates” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
For further information please contact:
Company Contact:
Dr. Loukas Barmparis
President
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
Tel.: +30 2 111 888 400
Fax: +30 2 111 878 500
E-Mail: directors@safebulkers.com
Investor Relations / Media Contact:
Nicolas Bornozis, President Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536 New York, N.Y. 10169
Tel.: (212) 661-7566
Fax: (212) 661-7526
E-Mail: safebulkers@capitallink.com
FAQ
What vessels did Safe Bulkers (SB) agree to acquire on Jan 22, 2026?
Do the new Safe Bulkers (SB) vessels meet environmental standards?
How many IMO Phase 3 / NOx Tier III vessels does Safe Bulkers (SB) already have?
What is Safe Bulkers (SB) total newbuild orderbook after this agreement?
When are the outstanding Safe Bulkers (SB) newbuild deliveries scheduled?
