Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying financial information reflects all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim period results. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to current period presentation. There was no impact on total operating expenses or net income (loss) resulting from these reclassifications.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant estimates and assumptions of the Company are the estimated future cash flows used in its impairment analysis, the estimated salvage value used in determining depreciation expense and the allowances for doubtful accounts.

Voyage revenues represent revenues earned by the Company, principally from providing transportation services under voyage charters. A voyage charter involves the carriage of a specific amount and type of cargo on a load port to discharge port basis, subject to various cargo handling terms. Under a voyage charter, the service revenues are earned and recognized ratably over the duration of the voyage. A contract is accounted for when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights and payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable. Estimated losses under a voyage charter are provided for in full at the time such losses become probable. Demurrage, which is included in voyage revenues, represents payments by the charterer to the vessel owner when loading and discharging time exceed the stipulated time in the voyage charter. Demurrage is measured in accordance with the provisions of the respective charter agreements and the circumstances under which demurrage revenues arise. At the time demurrage revenue can be estimated, it is included in the calculation of voyage revenue and recognized ratably over the duration of the voyage to which it pertains. Voyage revenue recognized is presented net of address commissions.

Charter revenues relate to a time charter arrangement under which the Company is paid to provide transportation services on a per day basis for a specified period of time. Revenues from time charters are earned and recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter, as the vessel operates under the charter. Revenue is not earned when vessels are offhire.

Cash and cash equivalents include short-term deposits with an original maturity of less than three months. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows:

	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(unaudited)
Money market accounts – cash equivalents	$	26,518,566	$	32,150,342
Cash (1)	19,040,385		18,404,749
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	45,558,951	$	50,555,091
Restricted cash	2,500,000		2,500,000
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	48,058,951	$	53,055,091

(1) Consists of cash deposits at various major banks.

Restricted cash at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consists of $2.5 million held by the facility agent as required by the Bulk Nordic Odin Ltd., Bulk Nordic Olympic Ltd., Bulk Nordic Odyssey Ltd., Bulk Nordic Orion Ltd., and Bulk Nordic Oshima Ltd. – Dated September 28, 2015 - Amended and Restated Loan Agreement. $1,500,000 restricted cash was reclassified to current assets due to the balloon payments related to the Bulk Nordic Odyssey Ltd., Bulk Nordic Orion Ltd. tranches due in December of 2020 and Bulk Oshima tranche due in September of 2021.

Advance hire, prepaid expenses and other current assets were comprised of the following:  

	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(unaudited)
Advance hire	$	5,531,783	$	3,985,826
Prepaid expenses	3,287,976		4,924,557
Accrued receivables	8,370,234		6,466,068
Margin deposit	2,053,309		269,379
Other current assets	3,178,833		3,124,995
	$	22,422,135	$	18,770,825

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities were comprised of the following:

	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(unaudited)
Accounts payable	$	23,587,531	$	24,173,291
Accrued expenses	10,586,481		14,883,555
Derivative liabilities	1,374,948		472,073
Deferred consideration - Note 8	2,500,000		—
Other accrued liabilities	1,043,674		444,716
	$	39,092,634	$	39,973,635

Time charter out contracts

Charter revenue is earned when the Company lets a vessel it owns or operates to a charterer for a specified period of time. Charter revenue is based on the agreed rate per day. The charterer has the power to direct the use and receives substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the vessel. The Company determined that all time charter contracts are considered operating leases and therefore fall under the scope of ASC 842 because: (i) the vessel is an identifiable asset; (ii) the Company does not have substantive substitution rights; and (iii) the charterer has the right to control the use of the vessel during the term of the contract and derives the economic benefits from such use.

Time charter in contracts

The Company charters in vessels to supplement its owned fleet to support its voyage charter operations. The Company hires vessels under time charters with third party vessel owners, and recognizes the charter hire payments as an expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter. Charter hire payments are typically made in advance, and the unrecognized portion is reflected as advance hire in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Under the time charters, the vessel owner is responsible for the vessel operating costs such as crews, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and stores. As allowed by a practical expedient under ASC 842, the Company made an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset for leases with a term of 12 months or less, to forego recognizing a right-of-use asset and lease liability on its balance sheet. For the quarter ending September 30, 2020, the Company did not have any time charter in contracts with terms greater than 12 months, as such charter hire expense presented on the consolidated statements of income are lease expenses for chartered in contracts less than 12 months.

Leases under ASC 842

At September 30, 2020, the Company had nine vessels chartered to customers under time charters that contain leases. These nine leases varied in original length from 26 days to 60 days. At September 30, 2020, lease payments due under these arrangements totaled approximately $3,381,000 and each of the time charters were due to be completed in 56 days or less. The Company does not have any sales-type or direct financing leases.

The Company has two non-cancelable office leases and non-cancelable office equipment leases and the lease assets and liabilities are not material.

Revenue Recognition

Voyage revenues represent revenues earned by the Company, principally from providing transportation services under voyage charters. A voyage charter involves the carriage of a specific amount and type of cargo on a load port to discharge port basis, subject to various cargo handling terms. Under a voyage charter, the service revenues are earned and recognized ratably over the duration of the voyage. Estimated losses under a voyage charter are provided for in full at the time such losses become probable. Demurrage, which is included in voyage revenues, represents payments by the charterer to the vessel owner when loading and discharging time exceed the stipulated time in the voyage charter. Demurrage is measured in accordance with the provisions of the respective charter agreements and the circumstances under which demurrage revenues arise. Demurrage revenue is included in the calculation of voyage revenue and recognized ratably over the duration of the voyage to which it pertains. Voyage revenue recognized is presented net of address commissions.

Charter revenues relate to a time charter arrangement under which the Company is paid to provide transportation services on a per day basis for a specified period of time. Revenues from time charters are earned and recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter, as the vessel operates under the charter and do not fall under the scope of ASC 606, as defined below, revenue is not earned when vessels are offhire.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. Companies can apply the ASU immediately, however the guidance will only be available until December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. For most financial assets, such as trade and other receivables, loans and other instruments, this standard changes the current incurred loss model to a forward-looking expected credit loss model, which generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The new standard is effective for the Company at the beginning of 2023. Entities are required to apply the provisions of the standard through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. The Company is currently assessing the new guidance and its impact on its consolidated financial statements, and it intends to adopt the guidance when it becomes effective in the first quarter of 2023.