RE : PIONEER BACKGROUND
===
 
plse find their background below:
 
Pioneer Navigation Limited was established in 1983 as a private company for the carriage
of steel parcel products from Argentina and Brasil to the United States. From these
beginnings a long relationship with South American trading houses, steel mills and
grain charterers was developed. This captive trade to and from the East Coast of South
 America was fruitful throughout the 1980's, however, in the early 1990's the flag 
privileges for operators was removed from most commodities and thus Pioneer moved into 
the foreign bulk trades.
 
Since 1991, Pioneer has carried large volumes of import cargoes to Brasil, primarily 
fertilizers, coal and coke. On the export side, the cargoes have consisted mainly of pig
iron, iron ore and agricultural products to destinations worldwide.
 
Over the past 12 years, Pioneer has focused on spreading its cargo mix and exposure to 
other areas of the world. Today they hold various contracts of affreightment. 
Whereas the current chartered fleet stands at 13 vessels, the historical average has
been between 15 and 20 vessels including both handy and panamax vessels.
 
During the 1990's, contracts of affreightment have been concluded with such
companies as German Bulk Chartering (part of the BASF group), Mitsubishi Tokyo coal 
division, KCC Australia, Companhia Siderurgica Nacional Brasil, Potacan Toronto, Allied 
Signal New Jersey, Transammonia Zug, Cargill Geneva, Toepfer Hamburg, Andre Lausanne, 
Glencore Zug, Billiton  Switzerland, Comexport Brasil, National Power UK, Graincoop Sao 
Paulo Brasil, K.F.K. Denmark, Siderar Buenos Aires, Vale do Rio Doce Brasil, ADM, Petrosul
Vancouver, SSM Rott , ENEL Italy  along with many others.
 
Shipowner references can be obtained from numerous bluechip and well known companies 
including: Embiricos London, Agelef London, Samonas London, Seven Seas London, Brave 
Maritime Athens, Diana Shipping Athens, Thenamaris Athens, Efploia Shipping Athens, 
Torvald Klaveness Group Norway, M.I.S.C. Malaysia, Cosco Hong Kong, Fedcom Montreal, 
Torm Copenhagen and numerous others. 
 
Last year Pioneer decided that the timing was right to invest in newbuilding vessels and 
has together with a group of very well known shipping companies are shareholders in 8 
vessels (5 dry bulk and 3 chemical tankers)
 
Principals bankers are Marine Midland Bank New York and Midland Bank Jersey.
 
Apart from trip charters and voyage charters Pioneer have 9 handysize/handymax vessels on 
period charter and 3 panamax
on period charter.

thanks,