We start by continuously monitoring the shipping markets to identify attractive segments and timing. Currently, we focus on the dry bulk sector (e.g., Handysize to Panamax bulk carriers), where we analyze supply-demand dynamics, vessel valuations, freight rate trends, and broader economic indicators daily. Our research is both quantitative and qualitative – we track data like the orderbook, scrapping rates, and commodity flows, but we also gauge market sentiment, as shipping can be sentiment-driven. The goal is to form a view on when and where value opportunities arise. For instance, we know a vessel is only attractive if it can generate strong earnings relative to its purchase price with upside potential – ideally bought at a cyclically low point with scope for freight rates to rise. This disciplined market scanning ensures we concentrate on the right opportunities at the right time.

Leveraging our research insights, we source deals through a broad industry network. We review about 250+ vessels per year as potential acquisitions. These come from shipbroker offerings, direct approaches from shipowners, bank-led sales, and sometimes distressed or special situations. We apply multiple filters to this pipeline: first eliminating vessels that don’t meet our criteria for age, build quality, or documentation. About 30% of initial candidates (~75 vessels) pass this initial screen, after which we ask, “Is now the right time and price to buy this ship?” – considering relative valuation and cycle position. Only about 15% (~40 vessels) clear that bar and move to deep due diligence. In due diligence, our team conducts technical inspections (hull, machinery, class records), evaluates commercial factors (charter potential, trading history), and validates all financial assumptions (operating costs, projected cash flows, downside scenarios). We also vet the counterparties and ensure the transaction is feasible (clean title, no complex ownership issues). Perhaps 5 or fewer vessels (~2%) emerge as final candidates worthy of acquisition in a given year. For those, we enter negotiations – agreeing on price and terms, often via a standard BIMCO Memorandum of Agreement – and simultaneously structure the deal (forming the SPV, arranging loan terms, and preparing the tokenization framework). We also try to secure employment (charter contracts) for the vessel in parallel, if possible, to ensure it begins generating revenue from day one. Once terms are set, we execute by signing contracts, closing financing, and taking delivery of the ship into our fleet. This thorough funnel means that by the time a vessel is acquired, it has passed a gauntlet of checks and is poised for success under our management.

After acquiring a vessel (or concurrently during the closing process), we open the investment to Navimaris’s investors via our platform. This stage involves preparing an Investment Memorandum and presentation detailing the vessel, the deal structure, projected returns, and risks. Investors – who may be high-net-worth individuals, family offices, or institutional players – are invited to our Navimaris Platform (Albatross) based in Cyprus to review the opportunity. The onboarding process is thorough: interested investors complete KYC/AML procedures, review legal documentation (shareholder agreements, rights associated with the tokenized shares), and then commit capital through our platform interface. The minimum investment is typically around $50,000, which lowers the barrier compared to direct ship ownership. We emphasize transparency – investors get access to all due diligence findings and can ask questions directly to our team. Once the allocation is finalized, investors receive digital tokens representing their ownership stake in the SPV that owns the vessel. These tokens come with embedded rights to cash flows (freight income and sale proceeds) and governance (certain voting or consent rights), all codified via smart contracts. We provide a real-time dashboard where investors can monitor vessel performance metrics and financial results, much more dynamically than the periodic PDFs of traditional shipping syndicates. In short, this stage transforms a traditionally illiquid asset into a compliant, investable digital asset, giving our clients an experience akin to investing in a fund or stock – but one backed by a real, operating ship.

Once the vessel is in operation under Navimaris, we move into the long-term management and value realization phase. Our technical and commercial teams manage the day-to-day, from scheduling maintenance and overseeing crew to fixing the vessel on charters at optimal rates. We pay close attention to the market to decide on employment strategies (e.g., locking in a time-charter for steady income vs. short-term charters to ride a rising market). Meanwhile, our investor relations and platform technology ensure investors receive monthly updates. We provide KPI dashboards showing key figures like utilization, operating days, revenue earned, OPEX, and any deviations from the business plan. We also share independent market reports periodically, so investors understand the market context of their investment. Financially, we manage the distribution of yield (earnings) to investors on a regular basis, facilitated by smart contracts that can automatically pay out to digital wallets, making the process efficient and timely. Importantly, Navimaris continues to co-invest alongside the investors throughout the vessel’s holding period – we typically retain a 25% equity stake, so we remain highly motivated to optimize performance. Risk management is continuous: we cap single-vessel exposure and build portfolios that provide diversified income streams to investors. Finally, when market conditions are favorable or the predefined investment horizon is reached (often targeted around 4-5 years), we execute a structured exit. This could be selling the vessel on the secondary market or potentially leveraging emerging secondary markets for the tokens themselves. We plan exits in a time-bound manner and communicate them in advance to investors, aiming to maximize returns while providing liquidity. Upon exit, proceeds (including any capital gains from the vessel sale) are distributed to token holders, and the project is closed out with full final reporting. Throughout this lifecycle, our approach ensures that investors have transparency, control, and alignment at every step – they can see how their investment is managed and trust that Navimaris’s incentives are aligned with their own.