2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 GS&T and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Baltic Trading. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and the rules and regulations 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, 2017 (the “2017 10-K”). The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.

Segment reporting

The Company reports financial information and evaluates its operations by charter revenues and not by the length of ship employment for its customers, i.e., spot or time charters. Each of the Company’s vessels serve the same type of customer, have similar operations and maintenance requirements, operate in the same regulatory environment, and are subject to similar economic characteristics. Based on this, the Company has determined that it operates in one reportable segment which is engaged in the ocean transportation of drybulk cargoes worldwide through the ownership and operation of drybulk carrier vessels.

Restricted cash

Current and non-current restricted cash includes cash that is restricted pursuant to our credit facilities, refer to Note 7 — Debt. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:


	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017		2017		2016
Cash and cash equivalents	$	172,775	$	174,479	$	138,873	$	133,400
Restricted cash - current		5,447		7,234		7,871		8,242
Restricted cash - noncurrent		22,977		23,233		27,151		27,426

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	201,199	$	204,946	$	173,895	$	169,068

Inventories

Inventories consists of consumable bunkers and lubricants, which are stated at the lower of cost or market value, if required. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company opted to break out these inventory assets that were previously classified as Prepaid expenses and other current assets into its own financial statement line item in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to provide a greater level of detail in the face of the financial statements. Inventories have been increasing as the result of the employment of vessels on spot market voyage charters, which result in higher bunker inventories. This change was made retrospectively for comparability purposes, and there was no effect on the Total current assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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 March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $15,673 and $16,706, 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 $310 per lightweight ton (“lwt”) times the weight of the ship noted in lwt.

Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue primarily relates to cash received from charterers prior to it being earned. These amounts are recognized as income when earned. Additionally, deferred revenue includes estimated customer claims mainly due to time charter performance issues. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had an accrual of $457 and $327, respectively, related to these estimated customer claims.

Revenue recognition

Since the Company’s inception, revenues have been generated from time charter agreements, spot market voyage charters, pool agreements and spot market-related time charters. A time charter involves placing a vessel at the charterer’s disposal for a set period of time during which the charterer may use the vessel in return for the payment by the charterer of a specified daily hire rate, including any ballast bonus payments received pursuant to the time charter agreement. Spot market-related time charters are the same as other time charter agreements, except the time charter rates are variable and are based on a percentage of the average daily rates as published by the Baltic Dry Index (“BDI”). Voyage revenues also include the sale of bunkers consumed during short-term time charters pursuant to the terms of the time charter agreement.

The Company records time charter revenues over the term of the charter as service is provided. Revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis as the average revenue over the term of the respective time charter agreement. The Company records spot market-related time charter revenues over the term of the charter as service is provided based on the rate determined based on the BDI for each respective billing period. As such, the revenue earned by the Company’s vessels that are on spot market-related time charters is subject to fluctuations of the spot market.

Under pool arrangements, the vessels operate under a time charter agreement whereby the cost of bunkers and port expenses are borne by the pool and operating costs including crews, maintenance and insurance are typically paid by the owner of the vessel. Since the members of the pool share in the revenue less voyage expenses generated by the entire group of vessels in the pool, and the pool operates in the spot market, the revenue earned by these vessels is subject to the fluctuations of the spot market. The Company recognizes revenue from these pool arrangements based on its portion of the net distributions reported by the relevant pool, which represents the net voyage revenue of the pool after voyage expenses and pool manager fees.

Pursuant to the new revenue recognition guidance as disclosed in Note 12 — Voyage Revenue, which was adopted during the three months ended March 31, 2018, revenue for spot market voyage charters is now recognized ratably over the total transit time of each voyage, which commences at the time the vessel arrives at the loading port and ends at the time the discharge of cargo is completed at the discharge port.

Voyage expense recognition

In time charters, spot market-related time charters and pool agreements, 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. These expenses are borne by the Company during spot market voyage charters. As such, there are significantly higher voyage expenses for spot market voyage charters as compared to time charters, spot market-related time charters and pool agreements. Refer to Note 12 — Voyage Revenue for further discussion of the accounting for fuel expenses for spot market voyage charters as a result of the new revenue recognition guidance adopted during the three months ended March 31, 2018. There are certain other non-specified voyage expenses, such as commissions, which are typically borne by the Company. 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 gain or loss within voyage expenses. Additionally, the Company records lower of cost or market adjustments to re-value the bunker fuel on a quarterly basis, as required. These differences in bunkers, including any lower of cost or market adjustments, resulted in a net gain (loss) of $855 and ($504) during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, voyage expenses include the cost of bunkers consumed during short-term time charters pursuant to the terms of the time charter agreement.

United States Gross Transportation Tax

The Company did not qualify for the Section 883 exemption during the year ended December 31, 2017 and believes that it will not qualify for the Section 883 exemption during the year ended December 31, 2018. In the absence of the exemption, 50% of the Company’s gross shipping income attributable to transportation beginning or ending in the U.S. (but not both beginning and ending in the U.S.) will be subject to a 4% tax without allowance for deductions (the “U.S. gross transportation tax”). During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company has recorded estimated U.S. gross transportation tax of $213 and $36, respectively, which has been recorded in Voyage expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation.

Impairment of vessel assets

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $56,402 and $0, respectively, related to the impairment of vessel assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360 — “Property, Plant and Equipment” (“ASC 360”).

On February 27, 2018, the Board of Directors determined to dispose of the Company’s following nine vessels; the Genco Cavalier, the Genco Loire, the Genco Lorraine, the Genco Muse, the Genco Normandy, the Baltic Cougar, the Baltic Jaguar, the Baltic Leopard and the Baltic Panther, at times and on terms to be determined in the future. Given this decision, and that the estimated future undiscounted cash flows for each of these older vessels did not exceed the net book value for each vessel, we have adjusted the values of these older vessels to their respective fair market values during the three months ended March 31, 2018. This resulted in an impairment loss of $56,402 during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Gain on sale of vessels

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded a net gain of $0 and $6,369, respectively, related to the sale of vessels. The net gain of $6,369 recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2017 related primarily to the sale of the Genco Wisdom, the Genco Reliance, the Genco Carrier and the Genco Success.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope of Modification Account” (“ASU 2017-09”). This ASU provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification account. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. ASU 2017-09 must be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 during the first quarter of 2018 and there was no effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”). This ASU adds or clarifies the guidance in ASC 230 – Statement of Cash Flows regarding the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flow. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-18 must be adopted retrospectively. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-18 during the fourth quarter of 2017. The retrospective application of ASU 2016-18 resulted in restricted cash being reclassified as a component of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”). This ASU adds or clarifies the guidance in ASC 230 – Statement of Cash Flows regarding the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods within those years and early adoption is permitted. This ASU shall be applied retrospectively to all periods presented, but may be applied prospectively from the earliest date practicable if retrospective application would be impracticable. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 during the first quarter of 2018. The retrospective application of ASU 2016-15 resulted in insurance proceeds for protection and indemnity claims and loss of hire claims to be separately disclosed in the cash flows from operating activities and resulted in insurance proceeds for hull and machinery claims to be separately disclosed in the cash flows from investing activities. These amounts were previously recorded in the cash flows from operating activities as the change in prepaid expenses and other current assets. Additionally, as part of ASU 2016-15, any cash payments for debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs (including third-party costs, premiums paid and other fees paid to lenders) must be classified as cash outflows for financing activities. Lastly, for any debt instruments that contain interest payable in-kind, any cash payments attributable to the payment of in-kind interest will be classified as cash outflows for operating activities. Refer to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840 – Leases. This ASU requires a dual approach for lessee accounting under which a lessee would account for leases as finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases will result in the lessee recognizing a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability for leases with lease terms of more than twelve months. For finance leases, the lessee would recognize interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset and for operating leases, the lessee would recognize a straight-line total lease expense. Accounting by lessors will remain largely unchanged from current U.S. GAAP. The requirements of this standard include an increase in required disclosures. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Lessees and lessors will be required to apply the new standard at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements in which they first apply the new guidance, using a modified retrospective transition method. The requirements of this standard include a significant increase in required disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU will require that equity investments be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). ASU 2016-01 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 during the first quarter of 2018 and there was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company currently does not have any equity investments.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle is that a company should recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, and shall be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption (the “modified retrospective transition method”). In May 2016 and, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.” This update provides further guidance on applying collectability criterion to assess whether the contract is valid and represents a substantive transaction on the basis whether a customer has the ability and intention to pay the promised consideration. The requirements of this standard include an increase in required disclosures. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 during the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method applied to those spot market voyage charter contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Upon adoption, the Company recognized the cumulative effect of adopting this guidance as an adjustment to its opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a financial impact on the recognition of revenue generated from time charter agreements, spot market-related time charters and pool agreements. Refer to Note 12 — Voyage Revenue for further discussion of the financial impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.