Sarasota, Fla.-based Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency, a locally owned insurance agency, has acquired Jeff DeJongh and Associates to further expand its presence in the region.

Located in Sarasota, Fla., Jeff DeJongh and Associates is a property and casualty insurance agency that serves Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties. Jeff DeJongh, who has more than 18 years of sales and management experience in the insurance, financial services and medical and dental device professions, will join Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency as the vice president of sales.

Jeff DeJongh and Associates’ three staff members will join the 26 other sales professionals in Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency’s Sarasota office.

Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency has been a part of the local community since 1959. It employs more than 25 full-time experienced insurance professionals, specializing in personal and commercial lines, life insurance and workers compensation, among others.

After its last order of 8 container ships from Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) back in November 2018, Wan Hai Lines again contracted twelve new-build 3,013Teu ships with JMU/Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd. (NSY) today. This new series of vessels are expected to be delivered successively from end of October 2022.

As part of Wan Hai’s continuous efforts on providing quality shipping service to its customers, most advanced design specification will be employed to ensure higher energy efficiency with less air pollution. All twelve ships will be powered by more environmentally friendly main engines and generators both meet IMO Tier III standards in terms of NOx emission. In addition, Alternate Maritime Power (AMP) systems are also outfitted so as to enable shore power connection and thus can significantly reduce air pollution when the vessels are berthed.

This new order is part of Wan Hai’s fleet renewal plan. The new vessels will strengthen the company’s capacity to extend its market coverage and to serve its customers in a timely and reliable manner.

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes announced today that it has taken delivery of the three capesize vessels E.R. BAYONNE, E.R. BUENOS AIRES and E.R. BORNEO (the “Vessels”) from entities affiliated with E.R. Capital Holding GmbH & Cie. KG (“E.R.” or “Sellers”), pursuant to the transaction previously disclosed on December 17, 2020. The Cash Consideration of the transaction was financed through proceeds of a new five-year term loan from a leading European financial institution.

Following these deliveries, the Company has 99,239,716 common shares issued and outstanding.

Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk’s vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain, and minor bulks, which include bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and maintains executive offices in Athens, Oslo, New York, Cyprus and Singapore. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SBLK”. Star Bulk operates a fleet of 119 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 13.4 million dwt, consisting of 17 Newcastlemax, 22 Capesize, 2 Mini Capesize, 7 Post Panamax, 35 Kamsarmax, 2 Panamax, 17 Ultramax and 17 Supramax vessels with carrying capacities between 52,425 dwt and 209,537 dwt.