FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of February 2010

Commission File Number:  001-32458

DIANA SHIPPING INC.

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Pendelis 16, 175 64 Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [  ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a press release from Diana Shipping Inc. (the "Company") dated February 16, 2010 announcing the investment of $50 million for a stake in the previously announced new containership project.

The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's registration statement on Form F-3D (File no. 333-150406) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") with an effective date of April 24, 2008, and the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 ASR (File No. 333-159016) filed with the Commission with an effective date of May 6, 2009.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

DIANA SHIPPING INC.

(registrant)

Dated:  February 17, 2010	By:	/s/ Anastasios Margaronis
		Anastasios Margaronis
		President

Exhibit 99.1

	Corporate Contact:
	Ioannis Zafirakis
	Director, Executive Vice-President and Secretary
	Telephone: + 30-210-947-0100
	Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
For Immediate Release
	Investor and Media Relations:
	Edward Nebb
	Comm-Counsellors, LLC
	Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350
	Email: enebb@optonline.net

DIANA SHIPPING INC. AGREES TO INVEST US$50 MILLION FOR A 38% STAKE IN PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED NEW CONTAINERSHIP PROJECT

Athens, Greece, February 16, 2010 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX; "Diana Shipping"), a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that it has agreed to invest US$50 million in the previously announced new project involving a company formed for the purpose of investing in containerships.  The investment by Diana Shipping is equivalent to an interest of approximately 38% of the common shares of the new company.  The balance of the new company's common shares is being purchased by institutional and accredited investors in a private transaction.

The proceeds raised in the private transaction from Diana Shipping and the other investors are expected to be used primarily to invest in containerships over the next 12-18 months.

At the closing of the investment, scheduled for February 19, 2010, Diana Shipping's wholly-owned management company will also enter into administrative and vessel management agreements with the new company, and certain Diana Shipping executives will also hold positions as executives of the new company.  In addition, Diana Shipping has agreed with the new company so long as the administrative agreement or any of the vessel management agreements remain in effect not to invest in containerships, while the new company has agreed not to invest in dry bulk carriers.  The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

The shares of the company involved in the project described in this press release have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in the absence of an effective registration statement or exemption from registration.  This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such shares.

About Diana Shipping Inc.

Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services. The Company specializes in transporting dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping and container shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires, willingness of investors to invest in container shipping projects and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

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