Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with Cargill International S.A., Geneva, for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the m/v Thetis, at a gross charter rate of US$13,750 per day, minus 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum eleven months (11) to maximum fourteen (14) months. The charter is expected to commence mid-February 2011.

This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$4.5 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the charter.

The m/v Thetis is a 73,583 dwt Panamax dry bulk carrier built in 2004.