DryShips Announces Syndicate Approval to Amend $495 Million
Term Loan Facility to Finance the Ocean Rig Mykonos

ATHENS, GREECE – June 21, 2011 - DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) (the “Company” or “DryShips”), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced that it has obtained unanimous consent from its existing syndicate members to amend the $495 million secured term loan facility to allow for full draw downs to finance the remaining costs of the Ocean Rig Mykonos based upon the employment of this drillship with Petrobras for 3 years for drilling offshore Brazil.

Furthermore, cash collateral deposited for this drillship will be released. The above is subject to completion of definitive documentation.

George Economou, Chairman and CEO commented:
“We are pleased to announce the final financing package for Ocean Rig’s original newbuilding program. As with the Ocean Rig Poseidon, the syndicate of lenders, including Deutsche Bank, have consented to allowing full draw downs to finance the Ocean Rig Mykonos. We thank our bankers and expect similar support for our future financing needs. As a result of the financing transactions concluded in the past several months, Ocean Rig is well positioned to capitalize on further growth opportunities. ”

About DryShips
DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner of drybulk carriers and tankers that operate worldwide. Through its majority owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig UDW Inc., DryShips owns and operates 8 offshore ultra deepwater drilling units, comprising of 2 ultra deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs and 6 ultra deepwater drillships, 4 of which remain to be delivered to the Company during 2011 and 2013. As of the day of this release, DryShips owns a fleet of 38 drybulk carriers (including newbuildings), comprising 7 Capesize, 29 Panamax and 2 Supramax, with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 3.4 million tons, and 12 tankers (including newbuildings), comprising 6 Suezmax and 6 Aframax, with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 1.6 million tons.

DryShips Inc. press release