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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Principles of consolidation |
Principles of consolidation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which includes the accounts of Baltic Trading and its wholly-owned ship-owning subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Basis of presentation |
Basis of presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and the rules and regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management of the Company, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and operating results have been included in the statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 10-K”). The results of operations for the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.
Vessels, net |
Vessels, net Vessels, net is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Included in vessel costs are acquisition costs directly attributable to the acquisition of a vessel and expenditures made to prepare the vessel for its initial voyage. The Company also capitalizes interest costs for a vessel under construction as a cost which is directly attributable to the acquisition of a vessel. Vessels are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, determined to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard. Depreciation expense for vessels for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $3,720 and $3,720, respectively. Depreciation expense for vessels for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $11,079 and $11,034, respectively. Depreciation expense is calculated based on cost less the estimated residual scrap value. The costs of significant replacements, renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over the shorter of the vessel’s remaining estimated useful life or the estimated life of the renewal or betterment. Undepreciated cost of any asset component being replaced that was acquired after the initial vessel purchase is written off as a component of vessel operating expense. Expenditures for routine maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Scrap value is estimated by the Company by taking the estimated scrap value of $245/lwt multiplied by the weight of the ship in lightweight tons (lwt).
Fixed assets, net |
Fixed assets, net Fixed assets, net are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is based on a straight line basis over the estimated useful life of the specific asset placed in service. The following table is used in determining the typical estimated useful lives:
Description |  | Useful lives
Computer equipment |  | 3 years
Vessel equipment |  | 2-15 years
Voyage expense recognition |
Voyage expense recognition In spot market-related time charters and time charters, operating costs including crews, maintenance and insurance are typically paid by the owner of the vessel and specified voyage costs such as fuel and port charges are paid by the charterer. There are certain other non-specified voyage expenses such as commissions which are typically borne by the Company. At the inception of a spot market-related time charter or 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 gain or loss within voyage expenses. These differences in bunkers resulted in a net loss (gain) of $119 and $0 during the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and a net loss (gain) of $45 and ($521) during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Income taxes |
Income taxes The Company is incorporated in the Marshall Islands. Pursuant to the income tax laws of the Marshall Islands, the Company is not subject to Marshall Islands income tax. During the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company had United States source income of $200 and $452, respectively. The Company’s estimated United States income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $4 and $9, respectively. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company had United States source income of $1,321 and $2,909, respectively. The Company’s estimated United States income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $26 and $31, respectively.
Deferred revenue |
Deferred revenue Deferred revenue primarily relates to cash received from charterers prior to it being earned. These amounts are recognized as revenue when earned. Additionally, deferred revenue includes estimated customer claims mainly due to time charter performance issues. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had an accrual of $26 and $2, respectively, related to these estimated customer claims.
Recent accounting pronouncements |
Recent accounting pronouncements In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (Topic 820) — Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2011-04”), to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements, particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. This standard was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and has been applied on a prospective basis. The Company has adopted ASU 2011-04 and the impact of adoption is not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

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