d939365_6-k.htm

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 November 2008
 
    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): ___
 
    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: ___
 

 
 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
 
Attached to this report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a press release dated November 18, 2008 of Diana Shipping Inc. announcing that it has entered into a time charter contract for the m/v Erato.

 
 

 

Exhibit 1

 
Corporate Contact:
 
Ioannis Zafirakis
 
Director, Executive Vice-President and Secretary
 
Telephone: + 30-210-9470-100
 
Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
For Immediate Release
 
 
Investor and Media Relations:
 
Edward Nebb
 
Comm-Counsellors, LLC
 
Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350
 
Email: enebb@optonline.net

 
DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES TIME CHARTER CONTRACT FOR MV ERATO
 
ATHENS, GREECE, November 18, 2008 – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), 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 Erato, at a gross rate of US$15,000 per day for a minimum eleven (11) to a maximum fourteen (14) month period.
 
This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$5 million of gross revenues for the minimum scheduled period of the charter. The charter is expected to commence during January 2009.
 
The m/v Erato is a 74,444 dwt Panamax dry bulk carrier built in 2004.
 
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, vessels 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.
 
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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:  November 18, 2008
By:    
/s/ Anastassis Margaronis
   
Anastassis Margaronis
President







SK 23159 0002 939365