12. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments under Contracts for Scrubbers Purchases

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


	December 31, 2019
Less than one year	$	4,218,540
Total	$	4,218,540

These amounts only reflect firm commitments for scrubber purchases as of December 31, 2019 and exclude costs related to their installation. The timing of these payments is subject to change as installation times are finalized.

Operating Leases

Operating lease rent expense was as follows:


	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Operating lease rent expense	$	141,395	$	120,010	$	391,411	$	353,609

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


	December 31, 2019
Less than one year	$	531,200
One to three years		395,592
Total	$	926,792

Time Charter-in

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


	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Charter hire expenses	$	2,071,206	$	—	$	6,181,206	$	—

We had the following time charter-in commitments relating to VLGCs either currently in our fleet or contracted to be delivered to our fleet:


	December 31, 2019
Less than one year	$	8,370,000
One to three years		1,400,000
Total	$	9,770,000

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:


	December 31, 2019
Less than one year	$	16,675,858
One to three years		31,125,000
Total	$	47,800,858

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.