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 April 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 1 is a press release dated April
13, 2005 announcing the delivery of a vessel to Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd.
(the "Company").

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                  None.





EXHIBIT 1


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

NEWS RELEASE for April 13, 2005, at 7:35 AM EDT

Contact: Allen & Caron Inc                  Christopher Georgakis, CEO
         Joe Allen (investors)              Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd
         joe@allencaron.com                 +30 210 45 98 692
         Brian Kennedy (media)              info@excelmaritime.com
         brian@allencaron.com
         212 691 8087

                  EXCEL MARITIME TAKES DELIVERY OF MV POWERFUL,
                   AND DEPLOYS VESSEL ON TWO-YEAR TIME CHARTER

PIRAEUS, GREECE (April 13, 2005) ... Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (Amex: EXM), a
shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of dry bulk cargoes
such as iron ore, coal and grains, announced that it has taken physical delivery
of MV Powerful, a Panamax bulk vessel. The Company also announced the
simultaneous commencement of a two-year charter for the vessel to a major
charterer at US $28,000.00 per day.

     The vessel is a Panamax dry bulk carrier of approximately 70,000 dwt, built
in 1994 in China, which the Company agreed to acquire on 22 March, 2005. MV
Powerful is the fifteenth vessel that the Company has agreed to acquire since
Christopher Georgakis joined Excel Maritime as CEO in late October 2004, and the
sixth to be deployed in the fixed term employment market.

     CEO Christopher Georgakis commented, "We are pleased to be reporting early
deliveries for the vessels we agreed to acquire following our successful follow
on offering in March 2005, and remain committed to our fleet deployment strategy
of medium- and long-term fixed employment for our tonnage."

About Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd
---------------------------------

      The Company is an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider
of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargo. This includes
commodities such as iron ore, coal, grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and
steel products. The Company was incorporated in 1988 under the laws of Liberia.

The following table represents the existing fleet together with the new
acquisitions:

Existing Fleet
Name                 Dwt       Year Built       Type      Delivery Date

Fighting Lady        146,313      1983        Capesize
Almar I              107,140      1979        Capesize
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Isminaki              74,577      1998        Panamax
Birthday              71,500      1993        Panamax
Powerful              70,000      1994        Panamax
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lady                  41,090      1985        Handymax
Swift                 37,687      1984        Handymax
Goldmar               39,697      1984        Handymax
Marybelle             42,552      1987        Handymax
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucky Lady            27,422      1975        Handysize
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                657,978
================================================================================

New Acquisitions
First Endeavour       69,111      1994        Panamax     Early May 2005
Renuar                70,000      1993        Panamax     Second Half April 2005
Elinakos              74,000      1997        Panamax     Early May 2005
Angela Star           73,000      1998        Panamax     Early July 2005
Happy Day             72,000      1997        Panamax     Second Half April 2005
Forteza               70,000      1993        Panamax     Early July 2005

Emerald               45,572      1998        Handymax    04.25.05
Princess I            38,385      1994        Handymax    Late May 2005
Attractive            41,524      1985        Handymax    Second Half April 2005
Total                553,592
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total        1,211,570
================================================================================

Forward Looking Statement
-------------------------

     This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the
Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including
expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters.. 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. Although the Company believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no
assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of
assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the
Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially include, but are not limited to changes in the demand for dry
bulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates;
risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors
listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or
undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations
with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any statement is based.

                                     # # # #





 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:  April 18, 2005                       By: /s/ Christopher J. Georgakis
                                                ----------------------------
                                                    Christopher J. Georgakis
                                                    President and
                                                    Chief Executive Officer


02545.0001 #564251