Diana Shipping Inc. Subsidiary Agrees to Acquire Containerships

ATHENS, Greece, June 21, 2010 - Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that Diana Containerships Inc., its majority-owned subsidiary formed for the purpose of investing in containerships, has entered into agreements to acquire two 3,400 TEU newbuilding containerships built at TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke GmbH, Emden, Germany from a third-party seller for a purchase price of Euro 37,300,000 each (approximately US$45.5 million based on the Euro/Dollar exchange rate as of June 8, 2010).

The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered to Diana Containerships Inc. by June 25, 2010, and the second is scheduled to be delivered between July 5 and July 15, 2010. Upon delivery, the first vessel is scheduled to be employed on charter with A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S for a period of minimum nine (9) to maximum twelve (12) months at a gross daily rate of US$16,000.

As previously announced, Diana Shipping has made an investment of US$50 million in Diana Containerships Inc., representing approximately 55% of the issued and outstanding shares of the new entity, with the balance of the common shares held by institutional and accredited investors that acquired the shares in a private transaction.

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.

Diana Shipping Inc. press release