Benzinga | May 19, 2021 08:37AM EDT

Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Time Charter Contract For m/v Astarte With MOL; Gross Charter Rate Of $25,000 Per Day

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 Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Astarte. The gross charter rate is US$25,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a time charter period until minimum November 1, 2021 up to maximum December 15, 2021. The charter is expected to commence tomorrow. The m/v Astarte is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Aquavita International S.A., at a gross charter rate of US$11,750 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.



The "Astarte" is a 81,513 dwt Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel built in 2013.

The employment of "Astarte" is anticipated to generate approximately US$4.03 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.

Upon completion of the previously announced sale of one Panamax dry bulk vessel, the m/v Naias, Diana Shipping Inc.'s fleet will consist of 36 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 12 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 10 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company's fleet, including the m/v Naias, is approximately 4.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.25 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.