Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Direct Continuation Of Time Charter Contracts With Phaetho And A New Time Charter Contract With DHL

ATHENS, GREECE, December 21, 2017 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has agreed to extend the present time charter contract with Phaethon International Company AG, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Erato. The gross charter rate is US$10,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum fourteen (14) months to maximum seventeen (17) months. The new charter period is expected to commence on December 30, 2017. The m/v Erato is currently chartered, as previously announced, at a gross charter rate of US$7,250 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Erato” is a 74,444 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2004.

Credits: dianashippinginc.com

The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has agreed to extend the present time charter contract with Phaethon International Company AG, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Danae. The gross charter rate is US$10,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum thirteen (13) months to about sixteen (16) months. The new charter period is expected to commence on December 22, 2017. The m/v Danae is currently chartered at a gross charter rate of US$7,750 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Danae” is a 75,106 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2001.

In addition, the Company announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with DHL Project & Chartering Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v New York. The gross charter rate is US$16,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum sixteen (16) months to maximum nineteen (19) months. The charter is expected to commence by mid-January, 2018. The m/v New York is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, at a gross charter rate of US$14,450 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “New York” is a 177,773 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2010.

The employment extensions of “Erato” and “Danae” as well as the employment of “New York” are anticipated to generate approximately US$15.99 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters.

Reference: dianashippinginc.com