UPDATE 2-Eastwind Maritime, affiliates plan to liquidate

* More than 50 affiliates also file for Chap. 7

* No reason given; attorney not available (Rewrites lead paragraph, adds Trustee, company comment)

By Chelsea Emery and Nick Carey

NEW YORK/DETROIT, June 24 (Reuters) - Shipping company Eastwind Maritime Inc said on Wednesday it would liquidate along with most of its affiliates, without giving a reason.

The company and more than 50 affiliates filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in New York.

Court documents and a company statement did not specify why it had chosen to liquidate rather than trying to restructure. A bankruptcy filing said: "... in the judgment of the board of directors, it is desirable and in the best interests of the company, its creditors and other interested parties that the company file a petition for relief and commence a case under the provisions of Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code."

A company statement said only: "Eastwind Maritime Inc, a Marshall Islands domiciled shipping company, today filed a voluntary Chapter 7 petition for liquidation of the company and most of its subsidiaries in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York."

A company representative was not available for comment.

Salvatore LaMonica was named as Trustee, according to court documents.

An attorney for the company did not return a call for comment.

The corporation listed assets and liabilities in the range of $500 million to $1 billion. Related affiliates include Kura Shipping Ltd and Probulk Inc. The cases are being heard by Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper.

Eastwind Maritime entered a deal with Chiquita Brands International Inc (CQB.N) in May 2007, in which Chiquita sold 12 refrigerated cargo vessels to Eastwind for $227 million, then leased them back. The vessels transported about 70 percent of Chiquita bananas shipped to core markets in Europe and North America.

Bryan Brown, a spokesman for Chiquita, did not immediately have information on the bankruptcy.

Prior to the agreement with Chiquita, Eastwind operated a fleet of 105 ships -- 68 of which it owned -- including refrigerated fruit carriers, freezer vessels, bulk carriers, product tankers and container ships, according to a Chiquita press release.

The Eastwind Maritime website has a notice reading: "We are currently updating our website. Thank you for your patience."

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