Jeffrey Pribor
Analyst · NOBLE Capital Markets
Okay. Thank you, Lois, and good morning, everyone.
Let's move directly to reviewing the third quarter results in more detail, starting with Slide 9. Consolidated TCE revenues for the third quarter of 2017 were $56.5 million, compared to $77.2 million in the third quarter of 2016. This decrease was principally driven by lower daily rates this quarter compared to Q3 of last year.
Let me now discuss the results of our business segments, beginning with the crude tanker segment. TCEs for crude tanker segment were $34.9 million for the quarter, compared to $50.2 million in the third quarter of last year. This decrease was primarily due to significantly lower average blended rates in the VLCC, Aframax and Panamax sectors, with spot rates there declining to $16,200, $10,800 and $11,100 per day, respectively. Also, fewer revenue days in Panamax and Aframax sectors resulting from an increase in drydock days and decreased contributions from the crude tankers lightering business, which I'll talk about more in just a moment. These revenue declines were partially offset by the addition of 2 2017-built Suezmaxes, which, as Lois mentioned, delivered to the company in July.
Talking about product carriers. TCE revenues for the product carrier segment were $21.6 million for the quarter, compared to $27.0 million in the third quarter of last year. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in average daily blended rates earned by the MR, LR1 and LR2 fleets, with spot rates declining to $10,100, $11,100 and $12,000 per day, respectively. The decline in blended MR, LR1 and LR2 rates accounted for $5 million of the decline in TCE revenues. The revenue was lower due in part to the repositioning for sale of the Overseas Petromar during the quarter.
Turning to our consolidated results. Net loss for the third quarter was $21.8 million or negative $0.75 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $15.4 million or negative $0.53 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2016. This net loss reflects $7.3 million in vessel impairment charges and $1.2 million in debt modification fees, and a decline in TCE revenue compared with the third quarter of 2016, which were partially offset by a decrease in general and administrative expenses, reflecting management's streamlining of the company's operation after its spinoff from OSG in November last year. Excluding the impairment charges and debt modification fees just mentioned, but also adding back $1.9 million gain on vessel sales, net loss would have been $15.2 million or $0.52 per diluted share for the quarter.
The impairments relate to 2 older MRs and 1 Panamax, for which there was an increased probability of disposal in the near term, including $1.3 million attributable to a 2004-built MR that will be delivered to buyers by mid-November. The $1.2 million in debt modification fees in the third quarter relates to the upsizing of our Term Loan B facility, from $500 million to $550 million, that was completed in July. Such charges are very similar -- are similar in nature to the $7.9 million reported in the second quarter.
Adjusted EBITDA was $15.8 million for the quarter compared to $37.1 million in the same period of 2016. This decrease mainly reflects lower daily rates in the third quarter compared to the third quarter of last year, and decreased earnings from our lightering business.
As you can see in the chart at the bottom of the slide, lightering EBITDA was a loss of $200,000 in Q3 compared to $900,000 in Q3 2016, due to hurricane-related disruptions and lower margins. Charter hire expenses increased by $500,000, up quarter-over-quarter, due to an increase in the number of time chartered in workboats as well as an increase in the amount paid to charter in Aframaxes to perform full-service lighterings as a result of the hurricane disruptions. Although Q3 was slow in comparison to the first and second quarters, for the last 12 months ended September 30, lightering EBITDA was $5.5 million. And the number of lighterings performed year-to-date in 2017 was 278, including 23 full-service jobs, which compares to 186, including only 7 full-service jobs, in the comparable period of 2016. Increasing U.S. exports have led to an increase in the number of reverse lighterings performed and increase for lightering contracts.
Now if we could turn to Slide 10, we provide a Q4 earnings update. Looking forward, we booked 57% of available VLCC spot days at an average of approximately $24,000 a day; 51% of available Suezmax spot days at an average of approximately $20,600 per day; 45% of available Aframax/LR2 spot days at an average of approximately $15,400 per day; and finally, 41% of available Panamax/LR1 spot days at an average of approximately $11,900 per day. These rates are significantly higher than those we earned in the third quarter. On the MR side, we booked 46% of our fourth quarter spot days at an average of approximately $9,100 per day.
Now turning to Slide 11, we look at breakevens. The cash cost TCE breakeven for the last 12 months ended September 30, 2017 were $15,600 per day for Vs; $16,500 a day for Suezmax, reflecting the aging market value of these July 2017 acquisitions; $13,400 per day for Aframaxes; $16,500 per day for Panamaxes; and $11,000 per day for MRs. International Seaways' overall breakeven rate was $14,200 per day for the 12 months ended September 30, 2017. These rates are the all-in daily rates our owned vessels must earn to cover operating costs, dry-docking, CapEx, G&A expense and debt service costs scheduled -- which means scheduled principal amortization as well as interest expense. Of note, taking into consideration distributions from our JVs, the overall breakeven rate for the company drops to $12,400. This highlights the importance of our JVs' contracted cash flows and minimal levels of debt amortization, which, together with our 9 vessels on time charters, allows us to remain cash flow positive even during the most challenging points in the tanker cycle, such as Q3.
Providing a little more detail on the slide and a view towards the remainder of 2017. The OpEx per revenue day by vessel class for the third quarter were: VLCCs, $9,300; Suezmax, $8,700; Aframax, $8,400; Panamax, $9,500; and MRs, $7,300. I would note, the Panamax number is somewhat inflated because the heavy dry-dock schedule -- because of heavy dry-dock schedule. On an operating day basis rather than revenue day, the Panamaxes would have been $8,600 a day. As discussed on previous calls, the targeted amounts per operating day for 2017 for the various classes are as follows: VLCCs, $9,300 per day; Aframax, $8,600; Panamax, $8,300; and MRs, $7,300 per day.
G&A for Q3 was $6.6 million. Our cash G&A run rate for year-to-date 2017 of $16.1 million, or $1,180 per vessel per day, is well inside our previously disclosed 2017 cash G&A target of $24 million, or $1,340 per vessel per day.
Additionally, looking forward, we expect about $7 million of dry-docks and maintenance CapEx during the remainder of 2017. We incurred $4 million in Q3, excluding payments for our 2 new Suezmaxes.
Interest expense in Q3 was $11 million, with approximately $1.2 million of that amount related to deferred financing cost, so therefore, a noncash cost. Looking forward, quarterly interest expense, now on a $550 million of outstanding term loans, including the $50 million increase at close in the third quarter, is expected to be approximately $11.2 million total, including approximately $1.2 million related to deferred financing cost, again, a noncash cost.
Now if we could go to Slide 12 for our cash bridge. Moving from left to right, we began the third quarter with a total cash of $121 million. During the quarter, we generated $16 million of adjusted EBITDA. This amount includes $13 million in equity income from the JVs, a noncash item, which is therefore deducted from EBITDA in order to reach a cash figure. The cash distributions from the JVs was $8 million. The exercise of the accordion on our term loan net of fees raised an additional $47 million. The sale of the Petromar contributed $8 million. Then we expended $100 million for the 2 Suezmaxes that we discussed earlier. In addition, we expended $4 million on dry-docking and maintenance CapEx. Cash interest paid on our debt was $10 million in the quarter, and we expended $3 million on share repurchases. Finally, changes in working capital and other noncash items had a positive impact of $3 million. The net result was we ended the quarter with approximately $73 million of cash. As noted earlier, after backing out vessel and share repurchases and incremental borrowings for vessel acquisitions, the company was cash flow positive for the quarter.
Please turn to Slide 13, our balance sheet. As of September 30, 2017, we had $1.2 billion of conventional assets against $512 million of long-term debt, which reflects our recently completed refinancing. In addition, we have a $50 million revolving credit facility, which was undrawn as of September 30, 2017. As I mentioned on the second quarter call, the new term loan facility, which carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.5%, extended our final maturity date out 5 years to June 2022. The revolving credit facility was also extended and has a final maturity date slightly sooner in December of 2021. Amortization is 2.5% in the first year ending June of 2018, and 5% per year thereafter. We continue to have relatively low amortization, which contributes to our low breakevens compared to our peers. This successful refinancing provided for the added liquidity to capitalize on an attractive opportunity to acquire the 2 Suezmax newbuildings and the recently acquired 2010-built VLCC. As I mentioned on the last call, we funded the 2 Suez newbuildings acquisitions with the $50 million increase in the term loan facility as well as cash on hand. Regarding the VLCC that we just recently acquired, we funded that through a partial drawdown of our $50 million revolver and cash on hand.
As you can see on the right-hand column of the slide, we are at 4.2x leverage on a debt-to-EBITDA basis as of September 30. And total debt-to-capital stood at 32%, with net loan-to-value of 43%, taking into account our conventional tanker fleet and the FSO JV.
Overall, our strong balance sheet and low cash breakevens, combined with their substantial contracted revenues and cash flows, protect us in a challenging environment, while our spot vessels provide significant upside opportunity as the market turns.
At the bottom of the slide, we also noted book values for our 2 joint ventures, which we think are representative of their fair values. As of the end of the third quarter, the FSO and LNG JVs had book values of $261 million and $95 million, respectively.
This concludes my comments on the financial statements. I'd now like to turn the call back to Lois for her closing comments.