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 August 2005


                               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 Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                          Form 20-F X Form 40-F ______ 

        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


INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

        Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a copy of the press
release issued by Diana Shipping Inc. (the "Company") on August 1, 2005
announcing a short term charter contract for the vessel Clio with Cargill
International S.A.



                                                                Exhibit 1

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


                          DIANA SHIPPING INC. ANNOUNCES
                         NEW SHORT TERM CHARTER CONTRACT

ATHENS, GREECE, August 1, 2005 - Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global
shipping transportation company specializing in dry bulk cargoes, today
announced that it has entered one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the Clio,
into a short term time-charter contract with Cargill International S.A. for a
period of approximately 40-45 days, estimated to begin on Aug 8, 2005, at a
gross rate of $13,000 per day, with delivery immediately following termination
of her current employment at Piombino, Italy. Redelivery will take place in
Indonesia. The Clio is a Panamax dry bulk carrier of 73,691 dwt built in China
in 2005.

About the Company

Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services.
The Company specializes in transporting dry bulk cargoes, including such
commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide
shipping routes. Diana Shipping Inc. priced its initial public offering of
common stock on March 17, 2005.

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," "except," "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: August 2, 2005                    By: /s/ Anastassis Margaronis 
                                                 --------------------------
                                                Anastassis Margaronis
                                                President



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