The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Castor and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. Castor, as the holding company, determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity. Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 810 “Consolidation”, a voting interest entity is an entity in which the total equity investment at risk is deemed sufficient to absorb the expected losses of the entity, the equity holders have all the characteristics of a controlling financial interest and the legal entity is structured with substantive voting rights. The holding company consolidates voting interest entities in which it owns all, or at least a majority (generally, greater than 50%) of the voting interest. Variable interest entities (“VIE”) are entities, as defined under ASC 810, that in general either have equity investors with non-substantive voting rights or that have equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. The holding company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE and is, therefore, the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A VIE should have only one primary beneficiary which is required to consolidate the VIE. A VIE may not have a primary beneficiary if no party meets the criteria described above. The Company evaluates all arrangements that may include a variable interest in an entity to determine if it is the primary beneficiary, and would therefore be required to include assets, liabilities and operations of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the 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. Significant estimates include vessel valuations, the valuation of amounts due from charterers, residual value and the useful life of the vessels. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The Company reports financial information and evaluates its operations by charter revenues and by type of vessel. As a result, management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operating results by revenue per day and by the segmented operating results of its fleet. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company determined that it operated under three reportable segments, as a provider of dry bulk commodities transportation services (dry bulk segment) and as a provider of transportation services for crude oil (Aframax/LR2 tanker segment) and oil products (Handysize tanker segment). The accounting policies applied to the reportable segments are the same as those used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. When the Company charters a vessel to a charterer, the charterer is free to trade the vessel worldwide and, as a result, the disclosure of geographic information is impracticable.

The Company’s reporting and functional currency is the U.S. Dollar (“USD”). Transactions incurred in other currencies are translated into USD using the exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in other currencies are translated into USD to reflect the end-of-period exchange rates and any gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Restricted cash may comprise of (i) minimum liquidity collateral requirements or minimum required cash deposits that are required to be maintained under the Company’s financing arrangements, (ii) cash deposits in so-called “retention accounts” which may only be used as per the Company’s borrowing arrangements for the purpose of serving the loan installments coming due or, (iii) other cash deposits required to be retained until other specified conditions prescribed in the Company’s debt agreements are met. In the event that the obligation to maintain such deposits is expected to elapse within the next operating cycle, these deposits are classified as current assets. Otherwise, they are classified as non-current assets.

The amount shown as trade receivables, net, at each balance sheet date, includes receivables from charterers for hire, freight, pool revenue, and other potential sources of income (such as ballast bonus compensation and/or holds cleaning compensation, etc.) under the Company’s charter contracts and/or pool arrangements, net of any provision for doubtful accounts. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectible accounts are assessed individually for purposes of determining the appropriate provision for doubtful accounts. Provision for doubtful accounts recorded as of December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 amounted to $0, $37,103 and $2,483, respectively.

Inventories consist of bunkers, lubricants and provisions on board each vessel. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price less reasonably predictable costs of disposal and transportation. Cost is determined by the first in, first out method. Inventories consist of bunkers during periods when vessels are unemployed, undergoing dry-docking or special survey or under voyage charters, in which case, they are also stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and cost is also determined by the first in, first out method.

When and where the Company identifies any assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition of a vessel, the Company records all such identified assets or liabilities at fair value. Fair value is determined by reference to market data obtained by independent broker’s valuations. The valuations reflect the fair value of the vessel with and without the attached time charter and the cost of the acquisition is then allocated to the vessel and the intangible asset or liability on the basis of their relative fair values. The intangible asset or liability is amortized as an adjustment to revenues over the assumed remaining term of the acquired time charter and is classified as non-current asset or liability, as applicable, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company records insurance claim recoveries for insured losses incurred on damage to fixed assets, loss of hire and for insured crew medical expenses. Insurance claim recoveries are recorded, net of any deductible amounts, at the time when (i) the Company’s vessels suffer insured damages or at the time when crew medical expenses are incurred, (ii) recovery is probable under the related insurance policies, (iii) the Company can estimate the amount of such recovery following submission of the insurance claim and (iv) provided that the claim is not subject to litigation.

Vessels, net are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. The cost of a vessel consists of the contract price plus any direct expenses incurred upon acquisition, including improvements, delivery expenses and other expenditures to prepare the vessel for its intended use which is to provide worldwide integrated transportation services. Subsequent expenditures for conversions and major improvements are also capitalized when they appreciably extend the life, increase the earning capacity or improve the efficiency or safety of a vessel; otherwise these amounts are charged to expense as incurred.

Depreciation is computed using the straight line method over the estimated useful life of a vessel, after considering the estimated salvage value. Each vessel’s salvage value is equal to the product of its lightweight tonnage and estimated scrap rate. Salvage values are periodically reviewed and revised, if needed, to recognize changes in conditions, new regulations or for other reasons. Revisions of salvage value affect the depreciable amount of the vessels and affect depreciation expense in the period of the revision and future periods. Management estimates the useful life of its vessels to be 25 years from the date of their initial delivery from the shipyard.

The Company reviews its vessels for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a vessel may not be recoverable. When the estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the use of a vessel is less than its carrying amount, the Company evaluates the vessel for an impairment loss. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the vessel in comparison to its carrying value, including any related intangible assets and liabilities. In this respect, management regularly reviews the carrying amount of its vessels in connection with their estimated recoverable amount.

Dry-docking and special survey costs are accounted under the deferral method whereby the actual costs incurred are deferred and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the period through the date the next survey is scheduled to become due. Costs deferred are limited to actual costs incurred at the yard and parts used in the dry-docking or special survey. Costs deferred include expenditures incurred relating to shipyard costs, hull preparation and painting, inspection of hull structure and mechanical components, steelworks, machinery works, and electrical works as well as lodging and subsistence of personnel sent to the yard site to supervise. If a dry-dock and/or a special survey is performed prior to its scheduled date, the remaining unamortized balance is immediately expensed. Unamortized balances of vessels that are sold are written-off and included in the calculation of the resulting gain or loss in the period of a vessel’s sale. The amortization charge related to dry-docking costs and special survey costs is presented within Depreciation and amortization in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The Company currently generates its revenues from time charter contracts, voyage charter contracts and pool arrangements. Under a time charter agreement, a contract is entered into for the use of a vessel for a specific period of time and a specified daily fixed or index-linked charter hire rate. An index-linked rate usually refers to freight rate indices issued by the Baltic Exchange, such as the Baltic Panamax Index. Under a voyage charter agreement, a contract is made for the use of a vessel for a specific voyage to transport a specified agreed upon cargo at a specified freight rate per ton or occasionally a lump sum amount. A less significant part of the Company’s revenues is also generated from pool arrangements, determined in accordance with the profit-sharing mechanism specified within each pool agreement.

The Company accounts for its time charter contracts as operating leases pursuant to ASC 842 “Leases”. The Company has determined that the non-lease component in its time charter contracts relates to services for the operation of the vessel, which comprise of crew, technical and safety services, among others. The Company further elected to adopt a practical expedient that provides it with the discretion to recognize lease revenue as a combined single lease component for all time charter contracts (operating leases) since it determined that the related lease component and non-lease component have the same timing and pattern of transfer and the predominant component is the lease. The Company qualitatively assessed that more value is ascribed to the use of the asset (i.e., the vessel) rather than to the services provided under the time charter agreements.

Lease revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable rental periods of such charter agreements, as rental service is provided, beginning when a vessel is delivered to the charterer until it is redelivered back to the Company, and is recorded as part of vessel revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income/(loss). Revenues generated from variable lease payments are recognized in the period when changes in facts and circumstances on which the variable lease payments are based occur. Deferred revenue includes (i) cash received prior to the balance sheet date for which all criteria to recognize as lease revenue have not yet been met as at the balance sheet date and, accordingly, is related to revenue earned after such date and (ii) deferred contract revenue such as deferred ballast compensation earned as part of a lease contract. Lease revenue is shown net of commissions payable directly to charterers under the relevant time charter agreements. Charterers’ commissions represent discount on services rendered by the Company and no identifiable benefit is received in exchange for the consideration provided to the charterer. Apart from the agreed hire rate, the owner may be entitled to additional income, such as ballast bonus, which is considered as reimbursement of owner’s expenses and is recognized together with the lease component over the duration of the charter. The Company made an accounting policy election to recognize the related ballast costs, which mainly consist of bunkers, incurred over the period between the charter party date or the prior redelivery date (whichever is latest) and the delivery date to the charterer, as contract fulfillment costs in accordance with ASC 340-40 and amortize these over the period of the charter.

The Company accounts for its voyage charter contracts following the provisions of ASC 606, Revenue from contracts with customers. The Company has determined that its voyage charter agreements do not contain a lease because the charterer under such contracts does not have the right to control the use of the vessel since the Company retains control over the operations of the vessel, provided also that the terms of the voyage charter are predetermined, and any change requires the Company’s consent and are therefore considered service contracts.

The Company assessed the provisions of ASC 606 and concluded that there is one single performance obligation when accounting for its voyage charters, which is to provide the charterer with an integrated cargo transportation service within a specified period of time. In addition, the Company has concluded that voyage charter contracts meet the criteria to recognize revenue over time as the charterer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the Company’s performance. As a result of the foregoing, voyage revenue derived from voyage charter contracts is recognized from the time when a vessel arrives at the load port until completion of cargo discharge. Demurrage income, which is considered a form of variable consideration, is included in voyage revenues, and represents payments by the charterer to the vessel owner when loading or discharging time exceeds the stipulated time in the voyage charter agreements.

Voyage expenses, consist of: (a) port, canal and bunker expenses unique to a particular charter that the Company incurs primarily when its vessels operate under voyage charter arrangements or during repositioning periods, and (b) brokerage commissions. All voyage expenses are expensed as incurred, except for contract fulfilment costs which are capitalized to the extent the Company, in its reasonable judgement, determines that they (i) are directly related to a contract, (ii) will be recoverable and (iii) enhance the Company’s resources by putting the Company’s vessel in a location to satisfy its performance obligation under a contract pursuant to the provisions of ASC 340-40 “Other assets and deferred costs”. These capitalized contract costs are amortized on a straight-line basis as the related performance obligations are satisfied. Costs to fulfill the contract prior to arriving at the load port primarily consist of bunkers which are deferred and amortized during the voyage period. These capitalized contract fulfilment costs are recorded under “Deferred charges, net” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At the inception of a time charter, the Company records the difference between the cost of bunker fuel delivered by the terminating charterer and the bunker fuel sold to the new charterer as a bunker gain or loss within voyage expenses.

Convertible debt is accounted for in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. An instrument that is not a derivative itself must be evaluated for embedded features that should be bifurcated and separately accounted for as freestanding derivatives in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or separately accounted for under the cash conversion literature of ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options.

The BCF is recognized separately at issuance by allocating a portion of the proceeds equal to the intrinsic value of the BCF to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a discount on the convertible instrument. This discount is accreted from the date on which the BCF is first recognized through the stated maturity date of the convertible instrument using the effective interest method. Upon conversion of an instrument with a BCF, all unamortized discounts at the conversion date are recognized immediately as interest expense.

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” which defines, and provides guidance as to the measurement of fair value. ASC 820 creates a hierarchy of measurement and indicates that, when possible, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority (Level 1) to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority (Level 3) to unobservable data, for example, the reporting entity’s own data. Under the standard, fair value measurements are separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy.

Costs associated with long-term debt, including but not limited to, fees paid to lenders, fees required to be paid to third parties on the lender’s behalf in connection with debt financing or refinancing, or any unamortized portion thereof, are presented by the Company as a reduction of long-term debt. Such fees are deferred and amortized to interest and finance costs during the life of the related debt instrument using the effective interest method. Any unamortized balance of costs relating to loans repaid or refinanced is expensed in interest and finance costs in the period in which the repayment or refinancing occurs, in accordance with the debt extinguishment guidance. Any unamortized balance of costs relating to refinanced long-term debt is deferred and amortized over the term of the credit facility in the period that such refinancing occurs, subject to the provisions of the accounting guidance prescribed under 470-50, Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments.

Basic earnings/(losses) per common share are computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders after subtracting the dividends accumulated for the period on cumulative preferred stock (if any, whether or not earned) and the deemed dividend on redemption of cumulative preferred stock, which was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2021, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share, reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised.

Commitments are recognized when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events and it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle this obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount of the obligation can be made. Provisions are reviewed at each balance sheet date and adjusted to reflect the present value of the expenditure expected to be required to settle the obligation. Contingent liabilities are not recognized in the financial statements but are disclosed unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is remote. Contingent assets are not recognized in the financial statements but are disclosed when an inflow of economic benefits is probable.

In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”)”. ASU 2020-04 provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the guidance in U.S. GAAP on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to expected market transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This ASU is effective for adoption at any time between March 12, 2020, and December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect adoption and transition to alternative reference rates will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASU 2020-06”). This standard removes the separation models for convertible debt with cash conversion or beneficial conversion features. It eliminates the “treasury stock” method for convertible instruments and requires application of the “if-converted” method for certain agreements. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2022, and this adoption had no impact on its consolidated financial statements as there was no outstanding convertible debt as of December 31, 2021.