Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specialising in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, has agreed, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, to extend the present time charter contract with SwissMarine Services S.A., Geneva, for one of its capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Houston, for a period of about 13 months to maximum 15 months.
The gross charter rate is US$5150 per day for the first 15 days of the charter period and US$10 000 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5% commission paid to third parties. The new charter period is expected to commence tomorrow. The “Houston” is a 177 729 DWT capesize dry bulk vessel built in 2009.
The employment extension of “Houston” is anticipated to generate approximately US$3.68 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter.
Diana Shipping Inc.’s fleet currently consists of 48 dry bulk vessels (four newcastlemax, 14 capesize, three post-panamax, four kamsarmax and 23 panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the company’s fleet is approximately 5.7 million DWR with a weighted average age of 7.71 years.