Tom Roberts, founding partner of Compass Maritime Services, a New Jersey-based firm specializing in the sale and purchase of ships (“S&P brokers” in the industry parlance), valuation, shipping research, and consulting, was approached in May 2008, by a client who wanted to purchase a capesize...

Tom Roberts, a founding partner of Compass Maritime Services, a New Jersey-based shipping research and consulting firm, has been asked by a new potential customer in May 2008 for advice on purchasing a capesize bulk carrier. After identifying a suitable ship with his colleague Basil Karatzas,...