Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Time Charter Contracts for m/v Santa Barbara With Cargill and m/v Salt Lake City With C Transport

Rhea-AI Summary

Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX) has entered into time charter contracts for two Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Santa Barbara and m/v Salt Lake City. The Santa Barbara will operate at a gross charter rate of $17,250 per day, while the Salt Lake City will have a rate of $13,000 per day. Both charters are set to commence shortly with expected revenues of approximately $11.89 million for the minimum charter period. Following the sale of three vessels, Diana Shipping's fleet will consist of 37 dry bulk vessels with a combined capacity of around 5.0 million dwt.

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• New time charters for Santa Barbara and Salt Lake City expected to generate approximately $11.89 million in gross revenue.
• Diana Shipping expands its fleet to 37 dry bulk vessels, enhancing operational capacity.

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• None.

ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 08, 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 Cargill International S.A., Geneva, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Santa Barbara. The gross charter rate is US$17,250 per day, minus a 4.75% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 5, 2022 up to maximum March 5, 2022. The charter is expected to commence tomorrow.

The “Santa Barbara” is a 179,426 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2015.

The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with C Transport Maritime Ltd., Bermuda, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Salt Lake City. The gross charter rate is US$13,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum April 1, 2022 up to maximum June 30, 2022. The charter is expected to commence tomorrow.

The “Salt Lake City” is a 171,810 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2005.

The employments of “Santa Barbara” and “Salt Lake City” are anticipated to generate approximately US$11.89 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters.

Upon completion of the previously announced sales of two Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Coronis and the m/v Oceanis, and one Capesize dry bulk vessel, the m/v Sideris GS, 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 Coronis, the m/v Oceanis and the m/v Sideris GS,  is approximately 5.0 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.26 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 is the latest charter contract announced by Diana Shipping (DSX)?

Diana Shipping announced time charter contracts for the m/v Santa Barbara at $17,250 per day and m/v Salt Lake City at $13,000 per day.

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

The new charters are projected to generate approximately $11.89 million in gross revenue.

What vessels are included in the recent time charter contracts for Diana Shipping (DSX)?

The recent contracts include the Capesize vessels m/v Santa Barbara and m/v Salt Lake City.

What is the current status of Diana Shipping's fleet after recent sales?

Diana Shipping's fleet consists of 37 dry bulk vessels with a combined capacity of about 5.0 million dwt.

When will the charters for Santa Barbara and Salt Lake City commence?

Both charters are expected to commence shortly after the announcement.