Diana Shipping, 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 Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v New Orleans. The gross charter rate is US$15,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 25, 2022 up to maximum March 25, 2022. The charter commenced on December 3, 2020. The m/v New Orleans was chartered, as previously announced, to  Cargill International S.A., Geneva, at a gross charter rate of US$15,000 per day, minus a 4.75% commission paid to third parties.

The “New Orleans” is a 180,960 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2015.

This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$6.37 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.

Upon completion of the previously announced sales of one Panamax dry bulk vessel, the m/v Coronis, and one Capesize dry bulk vessel, the m/v Sideris GS, Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet will consist of 38 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 12 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 12 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet, including the m/v Coronis and the m/v Sideris GS  is approximately 5.0 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.17 years.