Company: ASC
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001558370-25-002500
Chunk: 26

Company: Ardmore Shipping Corp
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 3
Chunk 26
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 increase with the age of the vessel. Older vessels are typically less fuel-efficient than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine technology. Cargo insurance rates increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers. Governmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which the vessels may engage. As our vessels age, market conditions may not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.

An increase in operating, voyage or other expenses due to increased inflation or otherwise may decrease our earnings and cash flows.

As of March 7, 2025, one of our vessels was employed under a fixed rate time charter agreement. For all vessels operating under time charters, the charterer is primarily responsible for voyage expenses and we are responsible for the vessel operating expenses. Under spot chartering arrangements, we will be responsible for all costs associated with operating the vessel, including operating expenses, voyage expenses, bunkers, port and canal costs.

Our vessel operating expenses, which include the costs of crew, provisions, deck and engine stores, insurance and maintenance, repairs and spares, and our voyage expenses, which include, among other things, the costs of bunkers port and canal costs, depend on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, such as competition for crew and inflation. If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The costs of drydocking repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial. Inflation has increased significantly on a worldwide basis since mid-2021. Inflation has increased our vessel operating expenses, voyage expenses and certain other expenses. To the extent our charter rates do not cover increased vessel operating expenses or voyage expenses for which we are responsible, or if other costs and expenses increase, our earnings and cash flow will decrease.

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We may be unsuccessful in competing in the highly competitive international tanker market, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and our ability to expand our business.

The operation of tankers and the transportation of petroleum and chemical products is extremely competitive, and our industry is capital intensive and highly fragmented. Competition arises primarily from other tanker owners, including major oil companies as well as independent tanker companies, some of which have substantially greater resources than we do.

Competition for the transportation of oil products and chemicals can be intense and