DryShips Announces the Acquisition of Two Panamax Vessels


ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - November 18, 2009) - DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) (the "Company" or "Dryships"), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced today an agreement to acquire two Panamax vessels for an aggregate price of $75.76m. The vessels, a 76,635 dwt Panamax built in 2007, and a 76,635 dwt Panamax built in 2006, are expected to be delivered charter-free within the first quarter of 2010. This transaction is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of DryShips.

About DryShips Inc.

DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner and operator of drybulk carriers and offshore oil deep water drilling that operate worldwide. As of the day of this release, DryShips owns a fleet of 39 drybulk carriers comprising 7 Capesize, 30 Panamax and 2 Supramax, with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 3.4 million tons, 2 ultra deep water semisubmersible drilling rigs and 4 ultra deep water newbuilding drillships.

DryShips Inc.'s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market where trades under the symbol "DRYS."

Visit our website at www.dryships.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forwardlooking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may 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 forward-looking statements in this release 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 our records and other data available from third parties. Although DryShips Inc. 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 our control, DryShips Inc. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. 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 changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in DryShips Inc.'s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by DryShips Inc. with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact Information: Investor Relations / Media: Nicolas Bornozis Capital Link, Inc. (New York) Tel. 212-661-7566 E-mail: dryships@capitallink.com