Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, Wednesday (May19) announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Astarte.

Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Time Charter Contract for m/v Astarte with MOL
Caption: Bulk carrier Astarte - Image courtesy of Ya Ray Yang

The gross charter rate is US$25,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a time charter period until minimum November 1, 2021 up to maximum December 15, 2021. The m/v Astarte is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Aquavita International S.A., at a gross charter rate of US$11,750 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Astarte” is a 81,513 dwt Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel built in 2013.

The employment of “Astarte” is anticipated to generate approximately US$4.03 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter. 

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 10.25 years.

Source: Diana Shipping