Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Time Charter Contracts For m/v San Francisco With Olam and m/v Aliki With Solebay

Rhea-AI Summary

Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX) has announced two time charter contracts for its vessels, boosting revenue potential. The m/v San Francisco will be chartered at a gross rate of US$17,750 per day for the first 105 days, increasing to US$24,700 thereafter, generating approximately US$13.56 million over the initial period. The m/v Aliki will be chartered for US$20,500 per day starting March 19, 2021. Following the sale of the m/v Oceanis, the fleet will consist of 37 vessels with a total capacity of around 4.8 million dwt and a weighted average age of 10.21 years.

Positive

• Time charter contracts expected to generate approximately US$13.56 million in gross revenue.
• New contracts at higher rates than previous charters, indicating improved revenue potential.

Negative

• Previous charter rates for both vessels were lower, indicating potential revenue loss if market rates decline.
• Dependence on time charters could expose the company to fluctuations in shipping demand.

ATHENS, Greece, March 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 Olam International Limited, Singapore, for one of its Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, the m/v San Francisco, for a period until minimum January 15, 2022 up to maximum March 15, 2022. The gross charter rate is US$17,750 per day for the first one hundred five (105) days of the charter period and US$24,700 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The charter commenced retroactively on February 11, 2021. The m/v San Francisco was chartered, as previously announced, to Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, at a gross charter rate of US$16,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “San Francisco” is a 208,006 dwt Newcastlemax dry bulk vessel built in 2017.

The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Solebay Shipping Cape Company Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Aliki. The gross charter rate is US$20,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 15, 2022 up to maximum March 15, 2022. The charter is expected to commence on March 19, 2021. The m/v Aliki is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, at a gross charter rate of US$11,300 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Aliki” is a 180,235 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2005.

The employments of “San Francisco” and “Aliki” are anticipated to generate approximately US$13.56 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters.

Upon completion of the previously announced sale of one Panamax dry bulk vessel, the m/v Oceanis, Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet will consist of 37 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 12 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 11 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet, including the m/v Oceanis,  is approximately 4.8 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.21 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.

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 severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts of the pandemic and of businesses’ and governments’ responses to the pandemic on our operations, personnel, and on the demand for seaborne transportation of bulk products; 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, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, 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.

FAQ

What are the details of the new charter contracts for Diana Shipping (DSX)?

Diana Shipping has signed two time charter contracts: one for the m/v San Francisco at US$17,750 per day for 105 days, rising to US$24,700, and another for the m/v Aliki at US$20,500 per day starting March 19, 2021.

How much revenue is expected from the new charters for DSX?

The new charters are anticipated to generate approximately US$13.56 million in gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period.

What is the current fleet size of Diana Shipping (DSX)?

Diana Shipping's fleet will consist of 37 dry bulk vessels after the sale of the m/v Oceanis, with a combined carrying capacity of about 4.8 million dwt.

When did the charters for the m/v San Francisco and m/v Aliki commence?

The charter for the m/v San Francisco commenced retroactively on February 11, 2021, while the m/v Aliki's charter is expected to begin on March 19, 2021.