Excel Maritime Announces Availability of 2011 Annual Report on Form 20-F

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - Mar 30, 2012) - Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (NYSE: EXM), an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and an international provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, announced today that its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The 2011 Annual Report on Form 20-F may also be accessed through Excel's website (www.excelmaritime.com) under Investor Relations' page menu titled Reports and Presentations.

Alternatively, shareholders may request a hard copy of the Form 20-F, free of charge, by contacting Capital Link, Investor Relations advisors of Excel Maritime Carriers, using the contact details provided below.

About Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd.

Excel is an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Excel owns a fleet of 40 vessels, one of which, a Capesize vessel, is owned by a joint venture in which Excel holds a 71.4% interest, and, together with seven Panamax vessels under bareboat charters, operates 47 vessels (seven Capesize, 14 Kamsarmax, 21 Panamax, two Supramax and three Handymax vessels) with a total carrying capacity of approximately 4.1 million DWT. Excel's Class A common shares have been listed since September 15, 2005 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EXM and, prior to that date, were listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) since 1998. For more information about Excel, please go to our corporate website www.excelmaritime.com.