DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES TIME CHARTER CONTRACT FOR M/V DIONE WITH CARAVEL
ATHENS, GREECE, February 2, 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 entered into a time charter contract with Caravel Shipping Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Dione, for a period of minimum nine (9) months to about twelve (12) months. The gross charter rate is US$7,200 per day for the first ninety (90) days of the charter period and US$7,050 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The charter is expected to commence on February 4, 2017.
The “Dione” is a 75,172 dwt Panamax dry bulk vessel built in 2001.
This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$1.92 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.
Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet currently consists of 48 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 14 Capesize, 3 Post-Panamax, 4 Kamsarmax and 23 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet is approximately 5.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 7.68 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Company’s website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Company’s website does not constitute a part of this press release.
About the Company
Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes.
