UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16
OR 15D-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May 2007
Commission File Number: 001-32458
DIANA SHIPPING INC.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Pendelis 16, 175 64 Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [__]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)7: ___
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant
foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a
material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [_] No [X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-______________.
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a press release dated May 1,
2007 from Diana Shipping Inc. (the "Company") announcing delivery of a Capesize
bulk carrier and commencement of a time charter contract.
Exhibit 1
Corporate Contact:
Ioannis Zafirakis
Director and Vice-President
Telephone: + 30-210-9470100
izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
For Immediate Release
---------------------
Investor and Media Relations:
Edward Nebb
Euro RSCG Magnet
Telephone: + 1-212-367-6848
ed.nebb@eurorscg.com
DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES DELIVERY OF CAPESIZE
BULK CARRIER AND COMMENCEMENT OF TIME CHARTER WITH CARGILL
ATHENS, GREECE, May 1, 2007 - Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping
transportation company specializing in dry bulk cargoes, today announced that
the Company has taken delivery of the 180,235 dwt Capesize dry bulk carrier, to
be renamed "Aliki", built in 2005 by Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Saijo Shipyard.
The agreement to purchase this vessel was originally announced on March 6, 2007.
As previously announced, the Company has entered into a time charter contract
with Cargill International S.A. for the Aliki for a minimum 46 to maximum 49
month period at an average rate of $48,500 per day. During the first two years
of the charter the gross daily charter hire rate will be $52,000 and during the
third and fourth years of the charter $45,000. The charterer has the option to
employ the vessel for a further 11 to 13 month period at a daily charter rate of
$48,500. The charter commenced on May 1, 2006.
During the initial four years, this employment is expected to generate gross
revenues of approximately $69 million. If the charterer exercises its option for
the fifth year, the charter is expected to generate aggregate gross revenues of
approximately $86 million over the entire period.
Including the newly-delivered Aliki, the Diana Shipping fleet currently consists
of 16 vessels (13 Panamax and 3 Capesize). Four additional Capesize vessel
newbuildings also have been announced, one of which is expected to be delivered
in June 2007, another in November 2007, and two others in the second quarter of
2010. The Company also has agreed to sell one older Capesize vessel. An
up-to-date table describing the Diana Shipping fleet can be found on the
Company's website, www.dianashippinginc.com
About the Company
Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services.
The Company specializes in transporting 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," "will," "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, our management's examination of historical
operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from
third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when
made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and
are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish
these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors other important factors that, in our
view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements include 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
our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs,
the market for our 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 our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and
other risks and uncertainties.
# # #
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
DIANA SHIPPING INC.
(registrant)
Dated: May 1, 2007 By: /s/ Anastassis Margaronis
-------------------------
Anastassis Margaronis
President
SK 23159 0002 770104