Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Note  7. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in legal proceedings and may become involved in other legal matters arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company evaluates these legal matters on a case-by-case basis to make a determination as to the impact, if any, on its business, liquidity, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The Company currently is party to the legal proceedings described below.

Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits

On June 13, 2011, a complaint against the Company's board of directors and a former director was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging, among other things, that the directors breached their fiduciary duties of loyalty, good faith and care in connection with (i) director and officer compensation in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; (ii) the Company's Management Agreement with Delphin Shipping LLC ("Delphin") (specifically, according to the complaint, alleging conflicts of interest between the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Delphin and the Company); and (iii) the adjournment of the Company's 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The complaint seeks rescission of director and officer compensation for those years as well as rescission of the Management Agreement, and seeks unspecified damages. The Company moved for summary judgment on April 1, 2013.

                On August 23, and August 30, 2011, respectively, two additional complaints were filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York (New York County) against the Company's board of directors and a former director alleging substantially similar breaches of fiduciary duties as those alleged in the lawsuit filed on June 13, 2011. On January 10, 2012, a motion by the Company was granted, which stays these state court actions pending the outcome of the June 13, 2011 federal action.   Those matters remain stayed. 

                On October 31, 2011, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by one of the plaintiffs in the June 13, 2011 federal action against the Company and its board of directors alleging deficiencies in the Company's proxy statement in connection with its special meeting of shareholders that was held on November 17, 2011. The Company revised its proxy statement prior to the meeting, causing plaintiffs to withdraw a request for injunctive relief in connection with their complaint.  The Company served an answer in this action on March 19, 2012.

Following the motion for summary judgment with respect to the June 13, 2011 federal action and mediation of the matter, on June 14, 2013 the parties therein moved for an order granting a proposed settlement (the "Proposed Settlement"), which, if approved, would act to settle each of the above-referenced actions.  The Proposed Settlement contains a denial by all defendants of wrongdoing and liability and mutual releases between and amongst the parties.  It also provides for certain changes to the Company's policies concerning director and executive compensation and certain other corporate governance policies with which plaintiffs in those actions had taken issue. The Proposed Settlement permits Plaintiffs' counsel to request an award of attorneys' fees and expenses which, in the aggregate, does not exceed $1.575 million, which if approved would be paid by the insurance and, in part, by the Company.  A hearing on the Proposed Settlement is currently set to be had on September 4, 2013.    

Vessel Technical Management Contract

The Company has technical management agreements for certain of its vessels with independent technical managers. The Company paid average monthly technical management fees of $10,315 and $10,367 per vessel during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Other commitments

On July 28, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement to charter-in a 37,000 dwt newbuilding Japanese vessel that is expected to be delivered between May 2014 and October 2014 for seven years with an option for an additional one year. The hire rate for the first to seventh year is $13,500 per day and $13,750 per day for the eighth year option. The Company has options to purchase the vessel starting at the end of the fifth year.