As filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on August 19, 2022

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

DIANA SHIPPING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

_________________________________________

Copies to:

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

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If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐ 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 19, 2022

PROSPECTUS

DIANA SHIPPING INC.

This prospectus relates to the resale or other dispositions by certain selling shareholders identified in this prospectus or in a subsequent prospectus supplement of up to an aggregate of 18,487,395 shares of our common shares issuable upon the exercise of the outstanding warrants described herein. Upon exercise of the warrants, the selling shareholders may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The selling shareholders may sell the common stock covered by this prospectus to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers or directly to purchasers. Underwriters, brokers or dealers may receive discounts, commissions or concessions from the selling shareholders, purchasers in connection with sales of the common stock covered by this prospectus, or both. If underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of the common stock offered by this prospectus, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in a supplement to this prospectus. Additional information relating to the distribution of the common stock covered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders can be found in this prospectus under the heading “Plan of Distribution.”

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the selling shareholders. Except for underwriting discounts, selling commissions and/or similar charges incurred for the sale of any shares, which will be paid by the selling shareholders, we have agreed to pay the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus.

Our common stock is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “DSX.” On August 18, 2022, the last reported price of our common stock on the NYSE was $5.62 per share.

An investment in the common stock covered by this prospectus involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus, and other risk factors contained in any prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein before investing in shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this prospectus is August 19, 2022.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar references in this prospectus are to U.S. dollars and financial information presented in this prospectus that is derived from financial statements incorporated by reference is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling shareholders named in this prospectus (or in a prospectus supplement) may, from time to time in one or more offerings, sell, or otherwise dispose of up to 18,487,395 shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus underlying warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, as described in this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from sales by the selling shareholders. We have agreed to pay the expenses incurred in registering these shares, including legal and accounting fees.

This prospectus may be supplemented from time to time by one or more prospectus supplements. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with any post-effective amendments to the registration statement, and the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus that we may provide you. We have not, and the selling shareholders have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus and neither we nor any selling shareholder take any responsibility for any other information that others may give you. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any document incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date mentioned on the cover page of these documents.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the information we incorporate by reference, include "forward-looking statements," as defined by U.S. federal securities laws, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Words such as, but not limited to, "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "projects," "likely," "will," "would," "could" and similar expressions or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The occurrence of the events described, and the achievement of the expected results, depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual results may differ materially from expected results.

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in its records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes 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 its control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

Such statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Company is making investors aware that such forward-looking statements because they relate to future events, are by their very nature subject to many important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated.

In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein, important factors that, in its view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (i) the strength of world economies, (ii) fluctuations in currencies and interest rates, (iii) general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, (iv) changes in demand in the dry-bulk shipping industry, (v) changes in the supply of vessels, including when caused by new newbuilding vessel orders or changes to or terminations of existing orders, and vessel scrapping levels, (vi) changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, crew costs, drydocking and insurance costs, (vii) the Company’s future operating or financial results, (viii) availability of financing and refinancing and changes to the Company’s financial condition and liquidity, including the Company’s ability, (ix) to pay amounts that it owes and obtain additional financing to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate activities and the Company’s ability to obtain financing and comply with the restrictions and other covenants in the Company’s financing arrangements, (x) changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, (xi) potential liability from pending or future litigation, (xii) compliance with governmental, tax, environmental and safety regulation, any non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) or other applicable regulations relating to bribery, (xiii) the continuing impact of the discontinuance of LIBOR at the end of 2021 on interest rates of any of the Company’s debt that reference LIBOR, (xiv) the failure of counter parties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, (xv) the Company’s dependence on key personnel, (xvi) adequacy of insurance coverage, (xvii) the volatility of the price of the Company’s common stock, (xviii) the Company’s incorporation under the laws of the Marshall Islands and the different rights to relief that may be available compared to other countries, including the United States, (xix) general domestic and international political conditions or labor disruptions, including the continuing impact of the war in Ukraine, (xx) acts by terrorists or acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels, (xxi) the continuing impact of COVID-19 on global economies and the continuing responses of governments to COVID 19, (xxii) potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, including the war in Ukraine, and (xxiii) other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE.

We have based these statements on assumptions and analyses formed by applying our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. All future written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus might not occur.

See the section entitled "Risk Factors," on page 5 of this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022 (the “Annual Report”), and incorporated by reference herein, for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. These factors and the other risk factors described in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

The industry and market data contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are based on and derived from various public and, in some cases, non-public sources that we believe to be reliable. However, certain industry and market data are subject to change and cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey. Accordingly, you should be aware that the industry and market data contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, and estimates and beliefs based on such data, may not be reliable. Although we believe such data and information to be accurate, we have not attempted to independently verify such information. Industry and market data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the sections entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This section summarizes some of the information that is contained later in this prospectus or in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully read all of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and related notes contained herein and therein, before making an investment decision. In this prospectus, all references to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” shall refer to Diana Shipping Inc. and, unless the context requires otherwise, its consolidated subsidiaries.

Our Company

Recent Developments

Management of Our Fleet

Corporate Information

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including those in "Item 3—Key Information—D. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Commission on April 27, 2022, as updated by other reports and documents we file with the Commission after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. Any of these risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The trading price of our securities could decline due to the occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties, and investors could lose all or part of their investment. In assessing these risks and uncertainties, investors should also refer to the information contained or incorporated by reference in our other filings with the Commission.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the shares of common stock offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus. All proceeds from the resale or other disposition of the shares of common stock pursuant to this prospectus will be for the accounts of the selling shareholders.

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2022:

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

You should carefully read the discussion of the material Marshall Islands and U.S. federal income tax considerations associated with our operations and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock set forth in the section entitled “Taxation” of the Annual Report incorporated by reference herein.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of the description of our capital stock and the material terms of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws.  Because the following is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We refer you to our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to our Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information—Information Incorporated by Reference.”

Purpose

Our purpose, as stated in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, or the BCA. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws do not impose any limitations on the ownership rights of our stockholders.

Authorized Capitalization

Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 86,199,839 shares are issued and outstanding, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which (i) 1,000,000 shares are designated Series A Participating Preferred Stock, none of which is issued and outstanding, (ii) 5,000,000 shares are designated Series B Preferred Stock, of which 2,600,000 are issued and outstanding, (iii) 10,675 are designated as Series C Preferred Shares, of which 10,675 are issued and outstanding, and (iv) 400 are designated as Series D Preferred Shares, of which 400 are issued and outstanding. All of our shares of stock are in registered form.

Common Stock

Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of common stock do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of our preferred stock.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series with designations as may be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock.  At the time that any series of our preferred stock is authorized, our board of directors will fix the dividend rights, any conversion rights, any voting rights, redemption provisions, liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of that series, as well as the number of shares constituting that series and their designation.  Our board of directors could, without shareholder approval, cause us to issue preferred stock which has voting, conversion and other rights and preferences that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of our common stock, Series A Participating Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock or Series D Preferred Stock, or make it more difficult to effect a change in control.  In addition, preferred stock could be used to dilute the share ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us and thereby hinder a possible takeover attempt which, if our shareholders were offered a premium over the market value of their shares, might be viewed as being beneficial to our shareholders. The material terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer through a prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. 

Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

Our Series B Preferred Stock is senior in rank to our Series A Participating Preferred Stock.  Holders of our Series B Preferred Stock have no voting rights other than the ability, subject to certain exceptions, to elect one director if dividends for six quarterly dividend periods (whether or not consecutive) are in arrears and certain other limited protective voting rights.  Holders of our Series B Preferred Stock rank prior to the holders of our common stock with respect to dividends, distributions and payments upon liquidation.  Dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock are cumulative from the date of original issue and are payable on the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each year at the dividend rate of 8.875% per annum, or $2.21875 per annum per share. At any time on or after February 14, 2019, we may redeem, in whole or in part, the Series B Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of redemption, whether or not declared.

For further information on our Series B Preferred Stock, please see the section entitled “Description of Series B Preferred Shares” of our prospectus supplement filed with the Commission on February 13, 2014.

Series C Preferred Stock.

The Series C Preferred Stock votes with the common stock of the Company, and each share entitles the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. The Series C Preferred Stock has no dividend or liquidation rights and cannot be transferred without the consent of the Company except to the holder’s affiliates and immediate family members.

For additional information about our Series C Preferred Shares, please see the Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2019 and incorporated by reference herein.

Series D Preferred Stock.

In June 2021 we issued 400 of Series D Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share to a related party.  The Series D Preferred Stock votes with the common shares and each share of the Series D Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to up to 100,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the common stockholders of the Company, subject to a maximum number of votes eligible to be cast by such holder derived from the Series D Preferred Shares and any other voting security of the Company held by the holder to be equal to the lesser of (i) 36% of the total number of votes entitled to vote on any matter put to shareholders of the Company and (ii) the sum of the holder’s aggregate voting power derived from securities other than the Series D Preferred Stock and 15% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast on matters put to shareholders of the Company.

On January 15, 2016, we entered into a Stockholders Rights Agreement, or the Rights Agreement, with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, to replace the Amended and Restated Stockholders Rights Agreement dated October 7, 2008.

Under the Rights Agreement, we declared a dividend payable of one preferred stock purchase right, or Right, for each share of common stock outstanding at the close of business on January 26, 2016. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, at an exercise price of $40.00 per share. The Rights will separate from the common stock and become exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 18.5% or more of our common stock (including through entry into certain derivative positions) in a transaction not approved by our board of directors. In that situation, each holder of a Right (other than the acquiring person, whose Rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will have the right to purchase, upon payment of the exercise price, a number of shares of our common stock having a then-current market value equal to twice the exercise price. In addition, if the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination after an acquiring person acquires 18.5% or more of our common stock, each holder of the Right will thereafter have the right to purchase, upon payment of the exercise price, a number of shares of common stock of the acquiring person having a then-current market value equal to twice the exercise price. The acquiring person will not be entitled to exercise these Rights. Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will have no rights to vote or receive dividends or any other stockholder rights.

The Rights may have anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire us without the approval of our board of directors. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire us. Because our board of directors can approve a redemption of the Rights or a permitted offer, the Rights should not interfere with a merger or other business combination approved by our board of directors.

We have summarized the material terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement and the Rights below. For a complete description of the Rights, we encourage you to read the Rights Agreement, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The Rights are attached to all certificates representing our currently outstanding common stock, or, in the case of uncertificated common stock registered in book entry form, which we refer to as “book entry shares,” by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership, and will attach to all common stock certificates and book entry shares we issue prior to the Rights distribution date that we describe below. The Rights are not exercisable until after the Rights distribution date and will expire at the close of business on January 14, 2026, unless we redeem or exchange them earlier as we describe below. The Rights will separate from the common stock and a Rights distribution date would occur, subject to specified exceptions, on the earlier of the following two dates:

“Acquiring person” is generally defined in the Rights Agreement as any person, together with all affiliates or associates, who beneficially owns 18.5% or more of the Company’s common stock. However, the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company, or any person holding shares of common stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, are excluded from the definition of “acquiring person.” In addition, persons who beneficially own 18.5% or more of the Company’s common stock on the effective date of the Rights Agreement are excluded from the definition of “acquiring person” until such time as they acquire additional shares in excess of 2% of the Company’s then outstanding common stock as specified in the Rights Agreement for purposes of the Rights, and therefore, until such time, their ownership cannot trigger the Rights. Specified “inadvertent” owners that would otherwise become an acquiring person, including those who would have this designation as a result of repurchases of common stock by us, will not become acquiring persons as a result of those transactions.

Our board of directors may defer the Rights distribution date in some circumstances, and some inadvertent acquisitions will not result in a person becoming an acquiring person if the person promptly divests itself of a sufficient number of shares of common stock.

Until the Rights distribution date:

As soon as practicable after the Rights distribution date, the Rights agent will mail certificates representing the Rights to holders of record of common stock at the close of business on that date. After the Rights distribution date, only separate Rights certificates will represent the Rights.

We will not issue Rights with any shares of common stock we issue after the Rights distribution date, except as our board of directors may otherwise determine.

A “flip-in event” will occur under the Rights Agreement when a person becomes an acquiring person other than pursuant to certain kinds of permitted offers. An offer is permitted under the Rights Agreement if a person will become an acquiring person pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement that has been approved by our board of directors prior to that person becoming an acquiring person.

If a flip-in event occurs and we have not previously redeemed the Rights as described under the heading “Redemption of Rights” below or, if the acquiring person acquires less than 50% of our outstanding common stock and we do not exchange the Rights as described under the heading “Exchange of Rights” below, each Right, other than any Right that has become void, as we describe below, will become exercisable at the time it is no longer redeemable for the number of shares of common stock, or, in some cases, cash, property or other of our securities, having a current market price equal to two times the exercise price of such right.

When a flip-in event occurs, all Rights that then are, or in some circumstances that were, beneficially owned by or transferred to an acquiring person or specified related parties will become void in the circumstances the Rights Agreement specifies.

A “flip-over event” will occur under the Rights Agreement when, at any time after a person has become an acquiring person:

If a flip-over event occurs, each holder of a Right, other than any Right that has become void as we describe under the heading “Flip-In Event” above, will have the right to receive the number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which has a current market price equal to two times the exercise price of such Right.

The number of outstanding Rights associated with our common stock is subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or subdivision, combination or reclassification of our common stock occurring prior to the Rights distribution date. With some exceptions, the Rights Agreement will not require us to adjust the exercise price of the Rights until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the exercise price. It also will not require us to issue fractional shares of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one-thousandth of a share, and, instead we may make a cash adjustment based on the market price of the common stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

At any time until the date on which the occurrence of a flip-in event is first publicly announced, we may order redemption of the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price of $0.01 per right. The redemption price is subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring before the date of redemption. At our option, we may pay that redemption price in cash or shares of common stock. The Rights are not exercisable after a flip-in event if they are timely redeemed by us or until ten days following the first public announcement of a flip-in event. If our board of directors’ timely orders the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate on the effectiveness of that action.

We may, at our option, exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an acquiring person or an affiliate or an associate of an acquiring person, which have become void), in whole or in part. The exchange will be at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per right, subject to specified adjustments at any time after the occurrence of a flip-in event and prior to any person other than us or our existing stockholders becoming the beneficial owner of 50% or more of our outstanding common stock for the purposes of the Rights Agreement.

During the time the Rights are redeemable, we may amend any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement, other than by decreasing the redemption price. Once the Rights cease to be redeemable, we generally may amend the provisions of the Rights Agreement, other than to decrease the redemption price, only as follows:

Other Matters

Our directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote. There is no provision for cumulative voting.

Our board of directors must consist of at least one member. Stockholders may change the number of directors only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding common stock. The board of directors may change the number of directors only by a majority vote of the entire board. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving staggered, three-year terms. Each director shall be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which the term expires for the relevant class, and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation, removal, or the earlier termination of his term of office. Our board of directors has the authority to fix the amounts which shall be payable to the members of the board of directors for attendance at any meeting or for services rendered to us.

Under our amended and restated bylaws, annual stockholder meetings will be held at a time and place selected by our board of directors. The meetings may be held in or outside the Marshall Islands. Special meetings may be called by our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, or Secretary at the direction of the board of directors or by holders of not less than one-fifth of all outstanding common stock. Our board of directors may set a record date between 15 and 60 days before the date of any meeting to determine the stockholders that will be eligible to receive notice and vote at the meeting. Shareholders of record holding at least one third of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at such meetings, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all stockholder meetings.

Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including any merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. However, the right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the appraised fair value of his shares is not available under the BCA for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of the shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for the shareholder’s shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the high court of the Republic of The Marshall Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which our shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange.

Under the BCA, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of common stock both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.

The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. Our amended and restated bylaws include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that certain individuals, including our directors and officers, are entitled to be indemnified by us to the same extent as authorized by the BCA, if such individuals acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. We shall have the power to pay in advance expenses a director or officer incurs while defending a civil or criminal proceeding, subject to certain conditions. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Several provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions, which are summarized below, are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions could also discourage, delay or prevent (i) the merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise that a stockholder may consider in its best interest and (ii) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation generally prohibit us from entering into a business combination with an “interested shareholder” for a period of three years following the date on which the person became an interested shareholder.  Interested shareholder is defined, with certain exceptions, as a person who (i) owns more than 15% of our outstanding voting stock, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Company that owned more than 15% of our outstanding stock at any time in the prior three years from the date the determination is being made as to whether he or she is an interested shareholder.

This prohibition does not apply in certain circumstances such as if (i) prior to the person becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder, or (ii) the person became an interested shareholder prior to the Company’s initial public offering.  Our board of directors approved the acquisition of the vessels from Sea Trade and the issuance of the 18,487,395 common shares as partial consideration for such purchases.

Under the terms of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our stockholders, to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. Our board of directors may issue shares of preferred stock on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide for the division of our board of directors into three classes of directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. This classified board provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of us. It could also delay stockholders who do not agree with the policies of our board of directors from removing a majority of our board of directors for two years.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws require parties other than the board of directors to give advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote for those directors. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.

Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by the unanimous written consent of our stockholders. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to certain exceptions, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, or Secretary at the direction of the board of directors or holders of not less than one-fifth of all outstanding shares may call special meetings of our stockholders and the business transacted at the special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Accordingly, a stockholder may be prevented from calling a special meeting for stockholder consideration of a proposal over the opposition of our board of directors and stockholder consideration of a proposal may be delayed until the next annual meeting.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may impede stockholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

The registrar and transfer agent for our common stock and Series B Preferred Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. 

Shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “DSX.”  Shares of our Series B Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “DSXPRB.”

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

On August 10, 2022 we entered into a single master agreement and on August 17, 2022, we entered into separate memorandums of agreement with Sea Trade to acquire nine dry bulk vessels for an aggregate purchase price of $330 million, consisting of $220 million in cash and an aggregate of 18,487,395 of our common shares, which are issuable upon the exercise of warrants upon the delivery of the vessels.  The shares being registered pursuant to this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part are the 18,487,395 shares of our common stock to be issued upon exercise of the warrants.  This prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part are being filed pursuant to a registration rights agreement that we and Sea Trade entered into on August 10, 2022. The warrants were issued to Sea Trade on August 17, 2022 following the signing of the master agreement.  Each warrant may be exercised for a portion of the aggregate 18,487,395 shares upon the delivery of the respective vessel and subject to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.  If the memorandum of agreement with respect to any of the nine vessel terminates prior to the delivery of such vessel, then the applicable warrant shall also terminate.

The table below lists the selling shareholder and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by the selling shareholder, based on 86,199,839 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 19, 2022. We have prepared the table and the related notes based on information supplied to us by the selling shareholder. We have not sought to verify such information. The table assumes the sale of all of the shares of our common stock offered by the selling shareholder in this offering. Other information about the selling shareholder may change over time, as it is possible that the selling shareholder may acquire or dispose of shares of our common stock from time to time after the date of this prospectus. Changes in such information will be set forth in prospectus supplements to the extent required.

The term “selling shareholder” includes the shareholder listed below and its transferees, assignees, pledgees, donees and other successors. However, we cannot be certain of the identities of every such holder at this time. The identity of any selling shareholder, including any material relationship between us, our affiliates or predecessors, and a selling shareholder within the last three years, the number of shares of our common stock held by a selling shareholder before and after the offering, the number of shares of common stock to be offered by a selling shareholder, the percentage of our shares of common stock held by a selling shareholder before and after the offering, and the price and terms upon which our shares of common stock are to be sold by a selling shareholder may to the extent not included herein be set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus.

Selling shareholders not included in the table below may not sell any shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified the selling shareholder and the shares being offered for resale by the selling shareholder herein (including in any amendment hereto) or in a subsequent prospectus supplement. The selling shareholder may also sell or transfer all or a portion of its shares of our common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Any prospectus supplement may add, substitute or change information contained in this prospectus, including the identity of such selling shareholders. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Plan of Distribution.”

We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of shares of our common stock. The selling shareholders will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to their respective sales of shares.

_______________________

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The securities covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold by the selling shareholder, or by transferees, assignees, donees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest of such securities received from the selling shareholder, directly or indirectly through brokers-dealers, agents or underwriters on the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which such our common shares are traded, or through private transactions. Our common shares covered by this prospectus may be transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of by any method permitted by law, including, without limitation, one or more of following transactions:

The selling shareholder may also sell shares under Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act, including transactions in accordance with Rule 144 promulgated thereunder, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

The selling shareholder may also transfer its shares including by means of gifts, donations and contributions. Subject to certain limitations under rules promulgated under the Securities Act, this prospectus may be used by the recipients of such gifts, donations and contributions to offer and sell the shares received by them, directly or through brokers, dealers or agents and in private or public transactions.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholder may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser), as the case may be, in amounts to be negotiated.

The selling shareholder may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by it and, if they default in the performance of its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the securities, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholder also may transfer the shares in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of our shares or interests therein, the selling shareholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholder may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The selling shareholders may sell the shares at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated prices, at fixed prices or without consideration by any legally available means. The aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be the purchase price of such securities less any discounts, concessions or commissions received by broker-dealers or agents. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any securities by the selling shareholders.

The selling shareholder and any broker-dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of our securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any commission received by such broker-dealers or agent on the sales and any profit on the resale of securities purchased by broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. As a result, we have informed the selling shareholder that Regulation M, promulgated under the Exchange Act, may apply to sales by the selling shareholder in the market. The selling shareholder or the Company may agree to indemnify any broker, dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving the sale of our securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

To the extent required with respect to a particular offer or sale of our securities, we will file a prospectus supplement pursuant to Section 424(b) of the Securities Act, which will accompany this prospectus, to disclose:

The selling shareholder is acting independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, price, manner and size of each sale of shares held by them. We have not engaged any broker-dealer or agent in connection with the sale of securities held by the selling shareholder, and there is no assurance that the selling shareholder will sell any or all of their securities. We have agreed to make available to the selling shareholder copies of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and have informed the selling shareholder of the need to deliver copies of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement to purchasers prior to any sale to them.

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless such securities have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the securities to be sold by the selling shareholder, including, without limitation, Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, a selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We may indemnify the selling shareholder named herein for liabilities including certain liabilities under the Securities Act or such selling shareholder will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by such selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by such selling shareholders specifically for use in this prospectus or we may be entitled to contribution.

Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

We will bear the registration costs relating to the shares offered and sold by the selling shareholder under this registration statement.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

Diana Shipping Inc. is a Marshall Islands corporation.  The Marshall Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides protections for investors to a significantly lesser extent.

Our principal executive offices are located outside the United States in Athens, Greece, and a majority of our directors, officers and the experts named in this prospectus reside outside the United States.  In addition, a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of our directors, officers and experts are located outside the United States. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon us or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments you may obtain in United States courts against us or these persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal or state securities laws. Furthermore, there is substantial doubt that courts in the countries in which we or our subsidiaries are incorporated or where our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts are located (i) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts based on those law.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Diana Shipping Inc. appearing in Diana Shipping Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the effectiveness of Diana Shipping Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 have been audited by Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. is located at 8B Chimarras Street, 15125, Maroussi, Greece and is registered as a corporate body with the public register for company auditors-accountants kept with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“SOEL”), Greece with registration number 107.

EXPENSES

The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain matters of Marshall Islands law will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, Marshall Islands counsel. Certain matters of the United States tax law will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, United States tax counsel.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual and special reports with the Commission.  You may read and copy any document that we file and obtain copies at prescribed rates from the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330.  The Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission.  Our filings are also available on our website at http://www.dianashippinginc.com.  The information on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the Commission prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.

We hereby incorporate by reference the documents listed below and certain future filings made with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:

We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain reports on Form 6-K or other filings that we furnish to the Commission after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus), including all such reports filed after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated.  In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not, and any underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

You may request a free copy of the above mentioned filings or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference to this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Diana Shipping Inc.

Pendelis 16

175 64 Palaio Faliro

Athens, Greece

011 30 (210) 947-0100

Information Provided by the Company

We will furnish holders of our common stock with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders.  While we intend to furnish proxy statements to any shareholder in accordance with the rules of the NYSE, those proxy statements are not expected to conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.  In addition, as a “foreign private issuer,” our officers and directors are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The amended and restated bylaws of the Registrant provide that any person who is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant upon the same terms, under the same conditions, and to the same extent as authorized by Section 60 of the BCA, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The Registrant shall have the power to pay in advance expenses a director or officer incurred while defending a civil or criminal proceeding, provided that the director or officer will repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that it is not entitled to indemnification. In addition, as permitted by the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws and Section 60 of the BCA, the Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ insurance, pursuant to which the Registrant provides insurance coverage against certain liabilities to which the Registrant’s directors and officers may be subject, including liability incurred under U.S. securities law.

Section 60 of the BCA provides as follows regarding the indemnification of directors and officers:

Item 9. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
4.1	Form of Common Stock certificate (1)
4.10	Form of Warrant of Diana Shipping Inc. issued on August 17, 2022 to Sea Trade Holdings Inc.
5.1	Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, United States and Marshall Islands counsel to Diana Shipping Inc.
8.1	Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, with respect to certain tax matters
23.1	Consent of Seward & Kissel LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
23.2	Consent of Seward & Kissel LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).*
23.3	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24	Powers of Attorney (contained in signature page).
107	Filing Fee Table

(1) filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 28, 2016.

Item 10. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Athens, country of Greece on August 19, 2022.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Anastassis Margaronis, Ioannis Zafirakis and Edward S. Horton as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on August 19, 2022.

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly undersigned representative of the Registrant in the United States, has signed this registration statement in Wilmington, Delaware on August 19, 2022.

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAWS AND THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED.

Warrant Certificate No.: [   ]

Original Issue Date:                   FOR VALUE RECEIVED, DIANA SHIPPING INC., a Marshall Islands company (the “Company”), hereby certifies that                , a           company (the “Holder”), is entitled to purchase from the Company up to an aggregate of                duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per share of $0.01 (the “Exercise Price”), all subject to the terms, conditions and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 hereof.

This Warrant has been issued pursuant to the terms of the Master Agreement and the Memorandum of Agreement.

1.          Definitions.  As used in this Warrant, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

“Aggregate Exercise Price” means the product of (i) $0.01 multiplied by (ii) the number of Warrant Shares.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

“Business Day” means any day, except a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, on which banking institutions in the city of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any capital stock into which such Common Stock shall have been converted, exchanged or reclassified following the date hereof (together with any related preferred stock purchase rights).

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Delivery Date” means the date of delivery of the Vessel to the buyer under the Memorandum of Agreement.

“Effectiveness Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

“Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

“Exercise Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(i).

“Exercise Price” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

“Holder” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Master Agreement” means the master agreement entered into by and between the Company and the Holder, dated as of                  , as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Memorandum of Agreement” means the MOA (as such term is defined in the Master Agreement) for the sale of the Vessel entered into by and between                    ,  a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, as buyer, and                      , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Holder, as seller, dated as of                 .

“Original Issue Date” means, the date on which this Warrant was issued by the Company pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

“Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust, incorporated organization or government or department or agency thereof.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the registration rights agreement, dated as of                 by and between the Company and the Holder, and the other Persons as shall be parties thereto from time to time, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

“Registration Statement” means the Securities Act registration statement or an amendment to any existing Securities Act registration statement to be filed by the Company registering the Warrant Shares for resale under the Securities Act in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreement, the Memorandum of Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Stock Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.

“Vessel” means                , IMO Number          .

“Warrant” means this Warrant and all warrants issued upon division or combination of, or in substitution for, this Warrant.

“Warrant Shares” means the aggregate shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, which amount shall not exceed an aggregate of                 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided herein).

2.          Term of Warrant.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Holder of this Warrant shall exercise this Warrant in full for the Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder, on the Delivery Date, or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day (the “Exercise Date”) provided that a Registration Statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or its nominee has been declared effective by the SEC not later than 5:30 p.m. local time in New York, NY on the Business Day immediately preceding the Delivery Date (the “Effectiveness Deadline”).  This Warrant shall expire and shall no longer be exercisable (the “Expiration Date”) upon the earlier of (i) the termination of the Memorandum of Agreement in accordance with its terms and (ii) the Delivery Date if the Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or before the Effectiveness Deadline.

3.          Exercise of Warrant. 

been issued, and the Holder shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Warrant Share for all purposes, as of the Exercise Date.

name other than that of the Holder or in the event the Holder elects to change its domicile or jurisdiction of formation subsequent to the original issue date of the Warrant. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof.

4.          Transfer of Warrant.  This Warrant and all rights hereunder are non-transferable, in whole or in part, by the Holder.  Any such transfer will be null and void.

5.          Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder; Limitations on Liability.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, prior to the issuance to the Holder of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

6.          Adjustments for Stock Event.  If at any time there shall occur any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, or other subdivision of the Company’s Common Stock, or if the Company’s Common Stock shall otherwise be converted, exchanged, or reclassified, or there is any similar event to any of the foregoing involving the Company’s Common Stock (a “Stock Event”), then the number of shares of Common Stock remaining issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be appropriately adjusted such that the proportion of the number of shares issuable hereunder to the total number of shares of the Company (on a fully diluted basis) prior to such Stock Event is equal to the proportion of the number of shares issuable hereunder after such Stock Event to the total number of shares of the Company (on a fully-diluted basis) after such Stock Event.

7.          Replacement on Loss.  Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and upon delivery of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (it being understood that a written indemnification agreement or affidavit of loss of the Holder shall be a sufficient indemnity) and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender of such Warrant for cancellation to the Company, the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver to the Holder, in lieu hereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and exercisable for an equivalent number of Warrant Shares as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed; provided, that, in the case of mutilation, no indemnity shall be required if this Warrant in identifiable form is surrendered to the Company for cancellation.

8.          Compliance with the Securities Act.

requirements set forth on the face of this Warrant and further agrees that such Holder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof except under circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act.  This Warrant shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAWS AND THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE MASTER AGREEMENT .”

9.          Warrant Register.  The Company shall keep and properly maintain at its principal executive offices books for the registration of the Warrant.  The Company may deem and treat the

Person in whose name the Warrant is registered on such register as the Holder thereof for all purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

10.          Notices.  All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10).

11.          Cumulative Remedies.  The rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise

12.          Equitable Relief.  Each of the Company and the Holder acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Warrant would give rise to irreparable harm to the other party hereto for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, the other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to equitable relief, including a restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction.

13.          Entire Agreement.  This Warrant, together with the Memorandum of Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Warrant with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

14.          Successor and Assigns.  This Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. Such successors of the Holder shall be deemed to be a Holder for all purposes hereunder.

15.          No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Warrant is for the sole benefit of the Company and the Holder and their respective successors and, in the case of the Holder, permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Warrant (other than the Seller).

16.          Headings.  The headings in this Warrant are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Warrant.

17.          Amendment and Modification; Waiver.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Warrant may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto. No waiver by the Company or the Holder of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Warrant shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

18.          Severability.  If any term or provision of this Warrant is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Warrant or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

19.          Governing Law.  This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of New York.

20.          Submission to Jurisdiction.  Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the city of New York and County of Manhattan, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process, summons, notice or other document by certified or registered mail to such party’s address set forth herein shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

21.          Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Warrant is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues and, therefore, each such party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby.

22.          Electronic Signatures.  A signed copy of this Warrant delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Warrant.

23.          No Strict Construction.  This Warrant shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Warrant on the Original Issue Date.

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

DIANA SHIPPING INC.

WARRANT NO. [  ] DATED          

Ladies and Gentlemen:

(1)          The undersigned hereby exercises the above-referenced Warrant with respect to          Warrant Shares in connection with the delivery of              .

(2)          Pursuant to this Exercise Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Holder       Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant to the following account of Holder [via DWAC]:

[INSERT ACCOUNT INSTRUCTIONS]

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

Very truly yours, /s/ Seward & Kissel LLP

Very truly yours, /s/ Seward & Kissel LLP

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form F-3

(Form Type)

Diana Shipping Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)