Capital Product Partners is taking a "first-things-first" approach with its quarterly dividend, having merged with Diamond S Shipping four months ago.

The New York-listed MLP wants to ensure long-term vessel employment before raising its $0.315 distribution, chief executive Jerry Kalogiratos said during today's second quarter earnings call.

"I think at this point and having completed the Diamond S transaction, we want to make sure that we deliver on certain things before we look at our distribution policy," he said.