FORM 6-K


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549



                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer
                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                           For the month of March 2005


                           EXCEL MARITIME CARRIERS LTD
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                             67 Akti Miaouli Street
                                  18537 Piraeus
                                     Greece
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                             Form 20-F [X]  Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                                 Yes [_]   No [X]







INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

Attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1 is a copy  of  Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations  of Excel  Maritime
Carriers Ltd. (the  "Company") for the full years ended December 31, 2004,  2003
and 2002. Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 are the audited consolidated financial
statements  of the Company as of December  31, 2003 and 2004 and for each of the
three years in the period ended  December 31, 2004.  Attached  hereto as Exhibit
99.3 is a consent of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A.,
the  Company's  independent   registered  public  accounting  firm.  Information
furnished on this Report of Foreign  Private  Issuer on Form 6-K shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Company's  Registration Statement on Form
F-3 (File No. 333-120259) and any related prospectus, as supplemented, including
the Company's  Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, on November 5, 2004.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Company  files annual  reports on Form 20-F (File No.  1-10137) and periodic
reports on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.





SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                          EXCEL MARITIME CARRIERS LTD.
                                  (registrant)



Dated:  March 8, 2005                    By: /s/ Christopher J. Georgakis
                                            ----------------------------
                                                Christopher J. Georgakis
                                                President and
                                                Chief Executive Officer

02545.0001 #553531