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Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
2.  
Significant Accounting Policies:

A discussion of the Company's significant accounting policies can be found in the Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K on June 27, 2014. There have been no changes to these policies in the six-month period ended June 30, 2014, apart from the ones stated below:

Principles of Consolidation and Combination: The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted by U.S. GAAP ,after effect to the transfer of assets from entities  under common control in 2013, as described in Note 1 to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, and include the accounts and operating results of Top Ships Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries referred to in Note 1. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Financial instruments: Financial liabilities are classified as either financial liabilities at ‘fair value through the profit and loss’ (“FVTPL”) or ‘other financial liabilities’. Financial instruments classified as FVTPL are recognized at fair value in the balance sheet when the Company has an obligation to perform under the contractual provisions of those instruments. Financial instruments are classified as liabilities or equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. Changes in the financial instruments are recognized in earnings, except in the cases where these financial instruments fall under the guidance in ASC 815-40, where they are initially classified in equity and are initially measured at fair value in permanent equity and subsequent changes in fair value are not subsequently measured. Other financial liabilities (including borrowings and trade and other payables) are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

Vessel Depreciation: Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the vessels, after deducting the estimated salvage value. Each vessel's salvage value is equal to the product of its lightweight tonnage and estimated scrap rate, which up until March 31, 2014 was estimated to be $160 per lightweight ton. Effective April 1, 2014, the Company revised its scrap rate estimate from $160 to $300 per lightweight ton, in order to align the scrap rate estimate with the current historical average scrap prices and to better reflect current market conditions. The change in accounting estimate has been applied prospectively. The effect of the increase in the estimated scrap rate was not significant to net income or earnings per share basic and diluted for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Management estimates the useful life of the Company's vessels to be 25 years from the date of initial delivery from the shipyard. Second hand vessels are depreciated from the date of their acquisition through their remaining estimated useful life. When regulations place limitations over the ability of a vessel to trade on a worldwide basis, its useful life is adjusted at the date such regulations are adopted.

Earnings / (Loss)  per Share: Basic earnings/(loss) per share are computed by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders' by the weighted average number of common shares deemed outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised. For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation includes the incremental shares assumed issued under the treasury stock method weighted for the period the non-vested shares were outstanding, with the exception of the 21,034 shares, granted to the Company's CEO, which will vest in the event of change of control. The computation of diluted earnings per share also reflects the potential dilution that could occur if warrants to issue common stock were exercised, to the extent that they are dilutive, using the treasury stock method.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014 the FASB issued ASU 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant and Equipment” changing the presentation of discontinued operations on the statements of income and other requirements for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new standard, a disposal of a component or a group of components of an entity is required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results when the component meets the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale or is disposed. The amendments in this update also require additional disclosures about discontinued operations and disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations. The new accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014. We plan to adopt ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015 and do not expect that the adoption will have a significant effect on our financial statements.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This standard is effective for public entities with reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted.  Management is in the process of accessing the impact of the new standard on Company's financial position and performance.