ATHENS, GREECE, August 16, 2013 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of dry bulk vessels, today announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with EDF Trading Limited, UK, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v “Thetis”. The gross charter rate is US$8, 300 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum twenty-two (22) months to maximum twenty-seven (27) months. The charter is expected commence by the end of August 2013.
The Thetis is a 73, 583 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2004.
This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$5.5 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the charter.
Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet currently consists of 33 dry bulk vessels (2 Newcastlemax, 9 Capesize, 3 Post-Panamax, 2 Kamsarmax and 17 Panamax). The Company also expects to take delivery of 1 Panamax dry bulk vessel by the end of August 2013, 2 new-building Ice Class Panamax dry bulk vessels during the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, and 2 new-building Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels during the second quarter of 2016. As of today, the combined carrying capacity of our fleet, excluding the five vessels not yet delivered, is approximately 3.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 6.5 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Company’s website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained…
