Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, Thursday (Mar11) announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Olam International Limited, Singapore, for one of its Newcastlemax dry bulk vessels, the m/v San Francisco, for a period until minimum January 15, 2022 up to maximum March 15, 2022. 

Diana Shipping Signs Time Charter Contracts for mv San Francisco with Olam and mv Aliki with Solebay
Caption: Bulk carrier San Francisco - Image courtesy of Diana Shipping

The gross charter rate is US$17,750 per day for the first one hundred five (105) days of the charter period and US$24,700 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The charter commenced retroactively on February 11, 2021. 

The m/v San Francisco was chartered, as previously announced, to Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, at a gross charter rate of US$16,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The San Francisco is a 208,006 dwt Newcastlemax dry bulk vessel built in 2017.

The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Solebay Shipping Cape Company Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Aliki. The gross charter rate is US$20,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 15, 2022 up to maximum March 15, 2022. The charter is expected to commence on March 19, 2021. The m/v Aliki is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore, at a gross charter rate of US$11,300 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.

The “Aliki” is a 180,235 dwt Capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2005.

The employments of “San Francisco” and “Aliki” are anticipated to generate approximately US$13.56 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters. 

Upon completion of the previously announced sale of one Panamax dry bulk vessel, the m/v Oceanis, Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet will consist of 37 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 12 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 11 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Company’s fleet, including the m/v Oceanis,  is approximately 4.8 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.21 years.