12. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments under Contracts for Scrubbers Purchases

We had contractual commitments to purchase scrubbers to reduce sulfur emissions as of:


	September 30, 2019
Less than one year	$	8,810,894
Total	$	8,810,894

These amounts only reflect firm commitments for scrubber purchases as of September 30, 2019 and exclude costs related to their installation. The timing of these payments is subject to change as installation times are finalized.

Commitments under Contracts for BWMS Purchases

As of September 30, 2019, we had the following contractual commitments to purchase ballast water management systems (“BWMS”) on one of our VLGCs:


	September 30, 2019
Less than one year	$	367,712
Total	$	367,712

Operating Leases

Operating lease rent expense was as follows:


	Three months ended				Six months ended
	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018		September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Operating lease rent expense	$	127,664	$	106,117	$	250,016	$	233,599

We had the following commitments as a lessee under operating leases relating to our United States, Greece, United Kingdom, and Denmark offices:


	September 30, 2019
Less than one year	$	502,064
One to three years		507,450
Total	$	1,009,514

Time Charter-in

Charter hire expenses for the VLGC time chartered in were as follows:


	Three months ended				Six months ended
	September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018		September 30, 2019		September 30, 2018
Charter hire expenses	$	2,055,000	$	—	$	4,110,000	$	—

We had the following time charter-in commitments relating to one VLGC currently in our fleet and one VLGC that will be delivered to us in the first calendar quarter of 2020:


	September 30, 2019
Less than one year	$	8,325,000
One to three years		3,500,000
Total	$	11,825,000

Fixed Time Charter Contracts

We had the following future minimum fixed time charter hire receipts based on non-cancelable long-term fixed time charter contracts:


	September 30, 2019
Less than one year	$	30,685,613
One to three years		36,640,752
Three to five years		815,000
Total	$	68,141,365

Other

From time to time we expect to be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, principally personal injury and property casualty claims. Such claims, even if lacking in merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We are not aware of any claim that is reasonably possible and should be disclosed or probable and for which a provision should be established in the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.