Tsakos Energy Navigation Announces Two-Year Time Charter Extension for an Aframax Tanker

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - Jul 27, 2012) - Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (TEN or the "Company") (NYSE: TNP) today announced a two-year time charter extension for the 2008 built, 105,392 dwt, double hull aframax tanker, Nippon Princess, with the same charterer, a state oil company. The new charter commenced in July 2012. The gross revenues from the extension of this charter are expected to be approximately $14.5 million over the corresponding period.

"We are pleased with the extension of Nippon Princess which follows our company's stated policy of long term, repeat business directly with the end users," said Mr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, President and CEO of TEN. "Our balanced fleet employment strategy has enabled our Company to navigate through difficult markets while being able to benefit from the eventual market upturn. This new time charter for the Nippon Princess enhances our cash flow predictability for 2012 and 2013. Our current time charters account for $1.1 billion in minimum gross revenues and reaffirm our position as a partner of choice for major end users. We are looking to more similar transactions in the near future that secure our company's strong cash flow and dividend distributions. "

ABOUT TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION
To date, TEN's pro forma fleet consists of 51 double-hull vessels of 5.5 million dwt. This figure includes one LNG carrier and two DP2 suezmax shuttle tankers under construction totaling 400,000 dwt. TEN's balanced fleet profile is reflected in 23 crude tankers ranging from VLCCs to aframaxes and 26 product carriers ranging from aframaxes to handysize and two LNG carriers. The Company has an option for a third LNG carrier to be declared no later than October 2012, totaling 86,000 dwt.

TEN's employment profile (operating fleet as of July 27, 2012):

Period Employment - Fixed, fixed w/profit share & min max (31)
Pool - market related (5)
Spot - market related (12)

TEN's current newbuilding program:

• Suezmax DP2 157,000dwt Q1 2013
• Suezmax DP2 157,000dwt Q2 2013
• LNG TBN 86,000dwt/162,000 m3 Tri-Fuel Q1 2015
• LNG TBN 86,000dwt/162,000 m3 Tri-Fuel Q4 2015 (option)

(All vessels are Double Hull)

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements contained in this press release are based upon information presently available to the Company and assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable. The Company is not assuming any duty to update this information should those facts change or should the Company no longer believe the assumptions to be reasonable. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, general market conditions, the market for the Company's common shares, the performance of the Company's business and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.