Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the “Company”), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Classic Maritime Inc., for one of its Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Philadelphia. The gross charter rate is US$28,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum March 1, 2022 up to maximum May 1, 2022. The charter commenced earlier today. The m/v Philadelphia was chartered, as previously announced, to BHP Billiton Freight Singapore Pte. Ltd., at a gross charter rate of US$14,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.
The “Philadelphia” is a 206,040 dwt Newcastlemax dry bulk vessel built in 2012.
The employment of “Philadelphia” is anticipated to generate approximately US$8.81 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.
Commenting on this charter, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Semiramis Paliou, stated:
“We are pleased to announce the specific time charter fixture, which is in line with our chartering strategy over the years. We find it especially noteworthy that the m/v Philadelphia has been fixed at the highest rate since the vessel was delivered to us in 2012, a reflection of the robust current dry bulk market.”
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 10.17 years.
