Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the m/v Danae, at a gross charter rate of US$15,600 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum twenty-three (23) months to maximum twenty-five (25) months. The charter is expected to commence by the end of April, 2011.

This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$11 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the charter. The m/v Danae is a 75,106 dwt Panamax dry bulk carrier built in 2001.