Diana Shipping Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

November 10, 2009 7:45 AM EST

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today reported net income of $28.7 million for the third quarter of 2009. This compared to net income of $57.6 million reported in the third quarter of 2008.

Voyage and time charter revenues were $58.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $87.4 million for the same period of 2008, due to a decrease in prevailing time charter rates and increased off-hire and drydock days.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 amounted to $93.9 million, compared to net income of $167.5 million for the same period of 2008. Voyage and time charter revenues were $180.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $253.1 million for the same period of 2008.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's Comments

"Diana Shipping Inc. has again produced strong results during the third quarter of 2009. We have delivered a profitable quarter despite the continued turbulent economic climate. The Company's cash position has been strengthened substantially by our recent results, and our debt level remains one of the lowest among publicly trading shipping companies. We have further enhanced our earning potential by recently adding a 20th vessel to our fleet with an attractive charter, and are expecting delivery of an additional Capesize vessel with a profitable charter in February 2010," said Simeon Palios, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Diana Shipping Inc.

Mr. Palios further stated, "We believe Diana Shipping remains well-positioned to manage through the current difficult period and to build value for the future. Our intention is to continue pursuing our strategy to take advantage of the growth opportunities presented during this low phase of the shipping cycle. Diana Shipping intends to purchase attractively priced vessels in a gradual and disciplined manner over the next two years, using our robust balance sheet and cash position, together with new debt as appropriate, to generate value for our shareholders."


 Fleet Employment  Profile (As of November 10, 2009)
 Currently  Diana's fleet is employed as follows:

                             Gross
                              Rate                       Redelivery
        Sister Year         (USD per                      date to
 Vessel Ships* Built  DWT     day)      Charterer         owners**

                            PANAMAX VESSELS
                            ---------------

 Coronis  C   2006   74,381  $14,000   TPC Korea Co.   Feb. 26, 2010 -
                                        Ltd., Seoul    Apr. 26, 2010

 Erato    C   2004   74,444  $15,000      Cargill
                                       International   Nov. 27, 2009 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Feb. 27, 2010

 Naias    B   2006   73,546  $19,000   J. Aron &
                                         Company,      Jul. 24, 2010 -
                                         New York      Sep. 24, 2010

 Clio     B   2005   73,691  $11,000      Cargill
                                       International   Dec. 26, 2009 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Mar. 26, 2010

 Calipso  B   2005   73,691  $9,400       Cargill
                                       International   Dec. 24, 2009 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Mar. 24, 2010

 Protefs  B   2004   73,630  $59,000      Hanjin
                                       Shipping Co.    Aug. 18, 2011 -
                                       Ltd., Seoul     Nov. 18, 2011

 Thetis   B   2004   73,583  $10,500      Cargill
                                       International   Dec. 12, 2009 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Mar. 12, 2010

 Dione    A   2001   75,172  $12,000   Louis Dreyfus
                                        Commodities    Jun. 1, 2010 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Sep. 1, 2010

 Danae    A   2001   75,106  $12,000     Augustea
                                       Atlantica Srl,  Jan. 23, 2011 -
                                          Naples       Apr. 22, 2011

 Oceanis  A   2001   75,211  $18,000    Bunge S.A.,    Jul. 6, 2010 -
                                          Geneva       Sep. 21, 2010


 Triton   A   2001   75,336  $17,000     Intermare
                                         Transport
                                       GmbH, Hamburg,  Sep. 10, 2010 -
                                          Germany      Nov. 25, 2010

 Alcyon   A   2001   75,247  $34,500      Cargill
                                       International   Nov. 21, 2012 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Feb. 21, 2013

 Nirefs   A   2001   75,311  $60,500     Cosco Bulk
                                        Carrier Co.     Feb. 3, 2010 -
                                            Ltd.        Apr. 3, 2010

                           CAPESIZE VESSELS
                           ----------------

 Norfolk  -   2002  164,218  $74,750      Corus UK     Jan. 12, 2013 -
                                          Limited      Mar. 12, 2013

 Aliki    -   2005  180,235  $45,000      Cargill
                                       International   Mar. 1, 2011 -
                                       S.A., Geneva    Jun. 1, 2011(3)

 Salt     -   2005  171,810  $55,800      Refined
 Lake                                     Success      Aug. 28, 2012 -
 City                                     Limited      Oct. 28, 2012

 Sideris  D   2006  174,186  $39,000   BHP Billiton
 GS                                    Marketing AG    Nov. 30, 2009

                             $36,000   BHP Billiton    Oct. 15, 2010 -
                                       Marketing AG    Jan. 15, 2011(3)


 Semirio  D   2007  174,261  $31,000   BHP Billiton    Apr. 30, 2011 -
                                       Marketing AG    Jul. 30, 2011(3)

 Boston   D   2007  177,828  $52,000   BHP Billiton    Sep. 28, 2011 -
                                       Marketing AG    Dec. 28, 2011(1)

 Houston  D   2009  177,729  $55,000      Shagang      Oct. 3, 2014 -
 (7)                                   Shipping Co.(8) Jan. 3, 2015

                     VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
                     --------------------------

 New      D   2010  177,000  $48,000   Nippon Yusen
 York                        (2),(4)   Kaisha, Tokyo   Jan. 31, 2015 -
 (4),(5),                              (NYK)           May 31, 2015(2)
 (6)

                  ---------
           Total: 2,365,616
                  ---------

 *  Each dry bulk carrier is a "sister ship", or closely similar, to
    other dry bulk carriers that have the same letter.

 ** Charterers' optional period to redeliver the vessel to owners.
    Charterers have the right to add the off hire days, if any, and
    therefore the optional period may be extended.

 (1) The charterer has the option to employ the vessel for a further
     11-13 month period. The optional period, if exercised, must be
     declared on or before the end of the 42nd month of employment and
     can only commence at the end of the 48th month, at the daily time
     charter rate of US$52,000.

 (2) Based on expected date of delivery from the yard to the owners.

 (3) The charterer has the option to employ the vessel for a further
     11-13 month period. The optional period, if exercised, must be
     declared on or before the end of the 42nd month of employment and
     can only commence at the end of the 48th month, at the daily time
     charter rate of US$48,500.

 (4) The gross rate will vary as follows: US$50,000 per day for
     delivery between October 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010 or
     US$48,000 per day for delivery between February 1, 2010 and
     April 30, 2010.

 (5) Latest possible delivery to owners during second quarter of 2010.

 (6) Hull H1107.

 (7) Hull H1138.

 (8) A guaranteed nominee of the Jiangsu Shagang Shipping Group Co.

Summary of Selected Financial & Other Data


 Summary of Selected Financial & Other Data

                              Three Months Ended  Nine months Ended
                                September 30,        September 30,
                               2009       2008      2009      2008
                              --------  --------  --------  --------
                                            (unaudited)
 INCOME STATEMENT DATA
 (in thousands of US Dollars):
   Voyage and time
    charter revenues          $ 58,223  $ 87,408  $180,702  $253,052
   Voyage expenses               2,778     3,528     9,069    10,168
   Vessel operating expenses    10,310    10,908    30,059    29,980
   Net income                   28,660    57,591    93,909   167,539
 FLEET DATA
   Average number of vessels      19.0      19.0      19.0      18.9
   Number of vessels              19.0      19.0      19.0      19.0
   Weighted average age of
    fleet (in years)               5.0       4.0       5.0       4.0
   Ownership days                1,748     1,748     5,187     5,165
   Available days                1,713     1,740     5,132     5,157
   Operating days                1,708     1,739     5,078     5,151
   Fleet utilization              99.7%     99.9%     98.9%     99.9%
 AVERAGE DAILY RESULTS
   Time charter equivalent
    (TCE) rate(1)             $ 32,367  $ 48,207  $ 33,444  $ 47,098
   Daily vessel operating
    expenses(2)               $  5,898  $  6,240  $  5,795  $  5,804

(1)  Time charter equivalent rates, or TCE rates, are defined as our
     voyage and time charter revenues less voyage expenses during a
     period divided by the number of our available days during the
     period, which is consistent with industry standards. Voyage
     expenses include port charges, bunker (fuel) expenses, canal
     charges and commissions. TCE is a non-GAAP measure. TCE rate is a
     standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to
     compare daily earnings generated by vessels on time charters with
     daily earnings generated by vessels on voyage charters, because
     charter hire rates for vessels on voyage charters are generally
     not expressed in per day amounts while charter hire rates for
     vessels on time charters are generally expressed in such amounts.

(2)  Daily vessel operating expenses, which include crew wages and
     related costs, the cost of insurance, expenses relating to
     repairs and maintenance, the costs of spares and consumable
     stores, tonnage taxes and other miscellaneous expenses, are
     calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by ownership
     days for the relevant period.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Diana Shipping Inc. will conduct a conference call and simultaneous Internet webcast to review these results at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time) on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Investors may access the webcast by visiting the Company's website at www.dianashippinginc.com, and clicking on the webcast link. The conference call also may be accessed by telephone by dialing 1-877-870-4399 (for U.S.-based callers) or 1-706-679-6101 (for international callers), and providing the operator with the Conference ID number 35991230.

A replay of the webcast will be available soon after the completion of the call and will be accessible on www.dianashippinginc.com. A telephone replay will be available by dialing 1-800-642-1687 (for U.S.-based callers) or 1-706-645-9291 (for international callers), and providing the Conference ID number 35991230.

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," "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.


                          DIANA SHIPPING INC.
                           FINANCIAL TABLES
                Expressed in thousands of U.S. Dollars,
                   except share and per share data

                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                         Three Months Ended       Nine months Ended
                            September 30,           September 30,
                          2009        2008        2009        2008
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                       (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
  REVENUES:
   Voyage and time
    charter revenues  $    58,223  $   87,408  $  180,702  $  253,052

  EXPENSES:
   Voyage expenses          2,778       3,528       9,069      10,168
   Vessel operating
    expenses               10,310      10,908      30,059      29,980
   Depreciation and
    amortization of
    deferred charges       11,195      11,034      33,031      32,243
   General and
    administrative
    expenses                4,402       3,267      12,683      10,725
   Foreign currency
    losses (gains)            (89)       (248)       (386)       (354)
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Operating income        29,627      58,919      96,246     170,290
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

  OTHER INCOME
   (EXPENSES):
   Interest and
    finance costs            (732)     (1,384)     (2,428)     (4,400)
   Interest Income            277          56         711         704
   Gain / (loss)
    from
    financial
    instruments              (512)         --        (620)         --
   Insurance
    settlement
    for vessel
    un-repaired
    damages                    --          --          --         945
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

   Total other income
    (expenses), net          (967)     (1,328)     (2,337)     (2,751)
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

 Net Income            $   28,660  $   57,591  $   93,909  $  167,539
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

   Less: Dividends
    paid on
    restricted stock           --         (69)         --        (178)
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

 Net income available
  to common
  shareholders         $   28,660  $   57,522  $   93,909  $  167,361
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

 Earnings/(losses)
  per common share,
   basic               $     0.36  $     0.77  $     1.21  $     2.25
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

 Earnings/(losses)
  per common share,
  diluted              $     0.36  $     0.77  $     1.21  $     2.25
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

 Weighted average
  number of common
  shares, basic        80,415,905  74,375,000  77,529,896  74,375,000
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

 Weighted average
  number of common
  shares, diluted
                       80,517,771  74,377,885  77,615,311  74,377,694
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

 BALANCE SHEET DATA
                                                Sept. 30,   Dec. 31,
                                                  2009        2008
                                                ---------   ---------
 ASSETS                                        (unaudited)
 ------

 Cash and cash equivalents                        251,638      62,033
 Other current assets                               4,108       6,521
 Advances for vessels under construction and
  acquisitions and other vessel costs              69,986      27,199
 Vessels' net book value                          927,923     960,431
 Other fixed assets, net                              118         136
 Investments in time deposits                       7,600          --
 Other non-current assets                           1,905         886
 Prepaid charter revenue, non-current portion      15,000          --
                                                ---------   ---------
   Total assets                                 1,278,278   1,057,206
                                                =========   =========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 ------------------------------------

  Current liabilities                              77,838      20,012
  Long-term debt                                  214,049     238,094
  Deferred revenue, non current portion            13,975      22,502
  Other non-current liabilities                     1,590       1,122
  Total stockholders' equity                      970,826     775,476
                                                ---------   ---------
   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   1,278,278   1,057,206
                                                =========   =========

 OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
                         Three Months Ended       Nine months Ended
                            September 30,           September 30,
                          2009        2008        2009        2008
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                       (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)

 Net cash from
  operating activities $   41,954  $   67,266  $  111,430  $  198,127
 Net cash from /
  (used in) investing
  activities              (14,088)       (260)    (50,436)   (108,389)
 Net cash from /
  (used in) financing
  activities                6,035     (84,950)    128,611    (101,703)
CONTACT:  Diana Shipping Inc.
          Ioannis Zafirakis, Director, Executive Vice-President
           and Secretary
          + 30-210-9470100
          izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com

          Comm-Counsellors, LLC
          Investor and Media Relations:
          Edward Nebb
          + 1-203-972-8350
          enebb@optonline.net


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