FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer
                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                           For the month of March 2007

                        Commission File Number: 001-32458



                               DIANA SHIPPING INC.
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                               Diana Shipping Inc.
                                   Pendelis 16
                              175 64 Palaio Faliro
                                 Athens, Greece
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [ X ]     Form 40-F [  ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)7: ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [ ] No [ X ]

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): ________.



INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

     Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a press release issued
by Diana Shipping Inc. on March 22, 2007 announcing that it has entered into a
time charter contract for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the MV Danae.




                                                               Exhibit 1



                                    Corporate Contact:
                                    Ioannis Zafirakis
                                    Director and Vice-President
                                    Telephone: + 30-210-9470100
                                    Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
For Immediate Release
                                    Investor and Media Relations:
                                    Edward Nebb
                                    Euro RSCG Magnet
                                    Telephone: + 1-212-367-6848
                                    Email: ed.nebb@eurorscg.com


   DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES LONG TERM TIME CHARTER CONTRACT FOR MV DANAE

ATHENS, GREECE March 22, 2007 - Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global
shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today
announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with Hanjin Shipping
Co. Ltd., Seoul, for one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the Danae, at a gross
daily charter rate of US$29,400 for a minimum twenty two (22) to a maximum
twenty five (25) month period.

The charter is expected to commence on or about April 22, 2007 and will further
increase the Company's employment cover for 2007 and beyond. This employment is
expected to generate approximately US$20 million of gross revenues for the
minimum scheduled period of the charter.

The Danae is a 75,106 dwt Panamax dry bulk carrier built in 2001.

About the Company

Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services.
The Company specializes in transporting dry bulk cargoes, including such
commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide
shipping routes.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking
statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe
harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage
companies to provide prospective information about their business.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives,
goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and
other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this
cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words
"believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan,"
"potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect" "pending" and similar expressions
identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various
assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions,
including without limitation, our management's examination of historical
operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from
third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when
made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and
are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish
these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our
view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and
currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates
and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in
our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs,
the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes
in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory
authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general
domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of
shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and
instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and
other risks and uncertainties.

                                      # # #



                                   SIGNATURES


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                               DIANA SHIPPING INC.
                                    (registrant)


Dated:  March 22, 2007                    By: /s/ Anastassis Margaronis
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Anastassis Margaronis
                                              President





SK 23159 0002 758660