DIANA SHIPPING INC.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.1 is a press release dated
February 9, 2024, of Diana Shipping Inc. (the "Company"), announcing that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Ming Wah International Shipping Company Limited, for one of its Kamsarmax dry
bulk vessels, the m/v Leonidas P. C.
The information contained in this Report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by
reference into the Company's registration statements on Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-256791 and 333-266999) that were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on July 9, 2021 and September 16, 2022, respectively.
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.
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Corporate Contact:
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Ioannis Zafirakis
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Director, Chief Financial Officer,
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Chief Strategy Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
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Telephone: + 30-210-9470-100
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Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
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Website: www.dianashippinginc.com
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X: @Dianaship
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For Immediate Release
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Investor and Media Relations:
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Edward Nebb
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Comm-Counsellors, LLC
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Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350
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Email: enebb@optonline.net
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DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES TIME CHARTER CONTRACT
FOR M/V LEONIDAS P. C. WITH MING WAH
ATHENS, GREECE, February 9, 2024 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the
ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels, today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Ming Wah International Shipping Company Limited, for one of its Kamsarmax dry
bulk vessels, the m/v Leonidas P. C. The gross charter rate is US$17,000, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum August 20, 2025 up to maximum October 20, 2025. The charter is expected to commence on February 21,
2024.
The “Leonidas P. C.” is a 82,165 dwt Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel built in 2011.
The employment of “Leonidas P. C.” is anticipated to generate approximately US$9.18 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled
period of the time charter.
Upon completion of the previously announced sale of m/v Artemis, Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet will consist of 39 dry bulk vessels: 4 Newcastlemax, 9 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 6 Panamax and 9 Ultramax. As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet including the
m/v Artemis, is approximately 4.5 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.64 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 and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk
vessels. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on short to medium-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.
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, Company management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions
were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company’s control, the Company cannot assure you that it will
achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company’s view, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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 capacity, changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company’s 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, including risks associated with the continuing
conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, including the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and
other factors. Please see the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.