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 December 2007

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

17th Km National Road Athens-Lamia & Finikos Street

145 64 Nea Kifisia

Athens, 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 December 20, 2007 by Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. Excel Maritime Carriers takes delivery of two Supramax vessels expanding fleet to 18 vessels.

Exhibit 1

NEWS RELEASE for December 20, 2007

Investor Relations / Financial Media: Nicolas Bornozis President Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue – Suite 1536 New York, NY 10160, USA Tel:  (212) 661-7566 Fax: (212) 661-7526 E-Mail: nbornozis@capitallink.com www.capitallink.com	Company: Christopher Georgakis Chief Executive Officer Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. 17th Km National Road Athens-Lamia & Finikos Street 145 64 Nea Kifisia Athens, Greece Tel: 011-30-210-62-09-520 Fax: 011-30-210-62-09-528    E-Mail: info@excelmaritime.com  http://www.excelmaritime.com

Excel Maritime Carriers Takes Delivery of Two Supramax Vessels Expanding Fleet to 18 Vessels

ATHENS, GREECE – December 20, 2007 -- Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd (NYSE: EXM), an owner and operator of dry bulk carriers and a provider of worldwide seaborne transportation services for dry bulk cargoes, announced today that it took delivery of two Supramax vessels, the M/V Mairouli and the M/V July M, on December 11, 2007 and December 14, 2007 respectively, which the Company had agreed to acquire in July 2007 for $63 mil each. Upon delivery to the Company, the two vessels were deployed in the spot market.

The M/V Mairouli, was built in 2005 at Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan and has a carrying capacity of 53,206 dwt. The M/V July M was built in 2005 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan and has a carrying capacity of 55,567 dwt.  The current fleet of Excel Maritime includes ten Panamax, two Supramax and six Handymax bulk carriers with a total carrying capacity of 1,074,022 deadweight tons with an average fleet age of 12.9 years.

Fleet Deployment (as of December 20, 2007)

Vessel Name	DWT	Year Built	Type	Deployment	Charter Commencement	Charter Period	Expected Redelivery	Charter Hire
Lady	41,090	1985	Handymax	Short Period	4/27/2007	6-8 months	Jan-08	$29,000
Emerald	45,588	1998	Handymax	Short Period	8/20/2007	5-7 months	Feb-08	$42,900
Fortezza	69,634	1993	Panamax	Short Period	11/01/2007	4-5 months	Apr-08	$93,000
Marybelle	42,552	1987	Handymax	Short Period	10/06/2007	5-7 months	Apr-08	$50,650
Rodon	73,670	1993	Panamax	Period	11/27/2006	21-23 months	Aug-08	$24,000
Angela Star	73,798	1998	Panamax	Period	10/27/2006	24-26 months	Nov-08	$26,500
Happy Day	71,694	1997	Panamax	Period	12/11/2006	23-25 months	Dec-08	$25,500
Renuar	70,128	1993	Panamax	Period	1/26/2007	22-24 months	Jan-09	$26,000
Isminaki	74,577	1998	Panamax	Period	4/24/2007	24-26 months	May-09	$32,000
Princess I	38,858	1994	Handymax	Period	7/20/2007	22-24 months	Jun-09	$30,000
Powerful	70,083	1994	Panamax	Period	7/07/2007	23-25 months	Jul-09	$39,000
First Endeavour	69,111	1994	Panamax	Period	8/25/2007	23-25 months	Sept-09	$45,000
Elinakos	73,751	1997	Panamax	Period	7/29/2006	11-12 months	Oct-09	$58,000
Vessel Name	DWT	Year Built	Type	Deployment
Birthday	71,504	1993	Panamax	Spot
July M	55,567	2005	Supramax	Spot
Mairouli	53,206	2005	Supramax	Spot
Attractive	41,524	1985	Handymax	Spot
Swift	37,687	1984	Handymax	Spot

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 cargoes, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. The company’s current fleet consists of 18 vessels (ten Panamax, two Supramax and six Handymax vessels) with a total carrying capacity of 1,074,022 deadweight tons. The Company was incorporated in 1988 and its common stock had been listed on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) since 1998. As of September 15, 2005 Excel Maritime is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), trading under the symbol EXM. For more information about the Company, please go to our corporate website www.excelmaritime.com.

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

EXCEL MARITIME CARRIERS LTD.
(registrant)

Dated: December 20, 2007  

    

 By: /s/ Christopher J. Georgakis

                                    

 ---------------------------------------------

                                      

 Christopher J. Georgakis

President and Chief Executive Officer