Excel Maritime Carriers Agrees to Sell 23-Year-Old Handymax Bulk Carrier


ATHENS, GREECE -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 11, 2007 -- Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (NYSE: EXM), an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, announced today that it has agreed to sell the M/V Goldmar, a Handymax dry bulk carrier of 39,697 dwt, built in 1984 in Japan, to an affiliated company for $ 15.85 million net of commissions. The sale has been approved by the company's Board of Directors and the vessel was delivered to the buyer the week commencing May 7, 2007. Excel Maritime expects to realize a book gain of approximately $ 6.2 million from this sale.

Maryville Maritime, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Excel Maritime, will continue as the technical manager of M/V Goldmar, thus generating a revenue stream for Excel of about $ 17,000 per month or about $ 200,000 annually.

CEO Christopher Georgakis commented, "The sale of the M/V Goldmar, one of our older vessels, has been concluded within the context of our strategy of taking advantage of the strength of the shipping markets and continuing with our fleet renewal program. Following this sale, the average age of our fleet is further reduced to 14.5 years.

"Furthermore, the fact that the sale was agreed on an arms length basis with an affiliated company presents a number of advantages to Excel Maritime and its shareholders. We were able to save in excess of US$ 300,000 in brokerage commissions and conclude the sale without incurring any sale related expenses such as crew repatriation and compensation costs, port disbursements or bunker costs during idle time. Additionally, by retaining the technical management of the vessel we have successfully generated a revenue stream of approximately $ 200,000 per annum for the company. We remain committed to our fleet renewal and expansion plans and we will continue to seek appropriate acquisition opportunities as these may arise."

FLEET PROFILE

The profile of our fleet as of today is the following:

Vessel Name                    Type          DWT        Year Built
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Isminaki                         PANAMAX        74,577          1998
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Angela Star                      PANAMAX        73,798          1998
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Elinakos                         PANAMAX        73,751          1997
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Rodon                            PANAMAX        73,670          1993
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Happy Day                        PANAMAX        71,694          1997
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Birthday                         PANAMAX        71,504          1993
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Renuar                           PANAMAX        70,128          1993
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Powerful                         PANAMAX        70,083          1994
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Fortezza                         PANAMAX        69,634          1994
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
First Endeavour                  PANAMAX        69,111          1994
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Panamax                         10       717,950
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Emerald                         HANDYMAX        45,572          1998
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Marybelle                       HANDYMAX        42,552          1987
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Attractive                      HANDYMAX        41,524          1985
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Lady                            HANDYMAX        41,090          1985
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Princess I                      HANDYMAX        38,858          1994
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Swift                           HANDYMAX        37,687          1984
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Total Handymax                         6       247,283
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
Grand Total                           16       965,233 Av. Age: 14.5
                           ------------- ------------- -------------
About Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd

The Company is an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. The company's current fleet consists of 16 vessels (ten Panamax and six Handymax vessels) with a total carrying capacity of 965,233 dwt. The Company was incorporated in 1988 and its common stock had been listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) since 1998. As of September 15, 2005 Excel Maritime is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), trading under the symbol EXM. For more information about the Company, please go to our corporate website www.excelmaritime.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and 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 which 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 dry bulk 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 publicly 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.

Contact Information: Contact: Investor Relations / Financial Media: Nicolas Bornozis President Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue - Suite 1536 New York, NY 10160, USA Tel: (212) 661-7566 Fax: (212) 661-7526 E-Mail: nbornozis@capitallink.com www.capitallink.com Company: Christopher Georgakis Chief Executive Officer Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. 17th Km National Road Athens-Lamia & Finikos Street 145 64 Nea Kifisia Athens, Greece Tel: 011-30-210-62-09-520 Fax: 011-30-210-62-09-528 E-Mail: info@excelmaritime.com http://www.excelmaritime.com

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