DryShips Inc. Reports Its Financial and Operating Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2009


ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - April 30, 2009) - DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and offshore oil deep water drilling, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2009.

First Quarter 2009 Highlights

--  For the first quarter of 2009, the Company reported a net loss of
    $101.8 million or $0.93 basic and diluted loss per share. Included in the
    first quarter results are a loss related to contract termination fees and
    forfeiture of vessel deposits of $166.2 million or $1.53 per share, a non
    cash gain of $8.7 million or $0.08 per share associated with the valuation
    of the Company's interest rate swaps, amortization of stock based
    compensation of $9.3 million or $0.09 per share, a gain on the sale of one
    vessel of $2.4 million or $0.02 per share and a gain on the contract
    cancellation of two vessels of $15.3 million or 0.14 per share. Excluding
    these items, net income would amount to $47.3 million or $0.45 per share.
    
--  The Company completed the ATM Equity Offering(SM) in which the Company
    raised gross proceeds of approximately $500 million since commencing the
    offering pursuant to the prospectus supplement filed on January 28, 2009.
    Merrill Lynch & Co. acted as sales agent in the offering.
    
--  The Company signed a 3-year employment contract with Petrobras for
    exploration drilling in the Black Sea for its semi-submersible rig, the
    Leiv Eiriksson. The contract is expected to commence in direct continuation
    from the current contract with Shell. The contract value is approximately
    $630 million, including an estimated 60 days of mobilization, disassembly
    and reassembly of the derrick structure, and an incentive bonus of 8%.
    

George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented:

"We are pleased to report better than expected results for the first quarter of 2009 after adjusting for previously disclosed non-recurring and other non-cash items. The result is another validation of our shift in strategy that started in the last quarter of 2007 to secure a fixed revenue base by locking-in period employment for our drybulk vessels and diversifying into the offshore segment by acquiring Ocean Rig. During the last six months, in a very challenging environment, we have taken pro-active and decisive actions to ensure we remain ahead of the curve. We have reduced capital expenditures totaling $2 billion and at the same time de-levered our balance sheet by raising $500 million of equity through the ATM Equity Offering(SM) completed during April. Our relationships with the banks which we have built up over the years have helped us secure waivers from our most important lenders and we are in constructive discussions with the rest of them. The UDW business continues to perform as per expectations and I am very pleased with the signing of the three year contract with Petrobras for the Leiv Eiriksson worth about $630 million. In this unprecedented recession, many large companies are fighting for survival. In contrast, with current liquidity of about $1.7 billion and no immediate capital expenditure requirements, DryShips is uniquely positioned among its shipping peers to go after distressed assets and drive the long awaited consolidation of the industry."

Financial Review: 2009 First Quarter

The Company recorded a net loss of $101.8 million, or $0.93 basic and diluted loss per share for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, as compared to a net profit of $176.3 million, or $4.58 basic and diluted earnings per share for the three month period ended March 31, 2008. EBITDA, which is defined and reconciled later in this press release, was ($14.6) million for the first quarter of 2009 as compared to $213.6 million for the same period in 2008.

Included in the first quarter results are a loss related to contract termination fees and forfeiture of vessel deposits of $166.2 million or $1.53 per share, a non cash gain of $8.7 million or $0.08 per share associated with the valuation of the Company's interest rate swaps, amortization of stock based compensation of $9.3 million or $0.09 per share, a gain on the sale of one vessel of $2.4 or $0.02 per share and a gain on the contract cancellation of two vessels of $15.3 million or $0.14 per share. Excluding these items, net income would amount to $47.3 million or $0.45 per share.

Following our acquisition of Ocean Rig, we have two reportable segments, the drybulk carrier segment and the offshore drilling segment. We did not earn any revenues and we did not incur any expenses from drilling contracts in the three months ended March 31, 2008 as we commenced consolidation of Ocean Rig on May 15, 2008, which was the date we gained control over our drilling rig subsidiary.

For the drybulk carrier segment, net voyage revenues (voyage revenues minus voyage expenses) decreased by $129.0 million, to $88.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, as compared to $217.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2008. The decrease is attributable to the substantially decreased hire rates we earned during the three month period ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the first quarter of 2008. For the offshore drilling segment, revenues from drilling contracts amounted to $99.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2009.

Total operating expenses and depreciation increased to $52.2 million and $48.4 million, respectively, for the three month period ended March 31, 2009 from $17.8 million and $24.4 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2008. This increase in operating expenses is primarily due to the fact that we did not incur in the first quarter of 2008 any expenses from our offshore drilling segment, which was not yet consolidated. Total general and administrative expenses increased to $17.3 million from $2.9 million during the comparative periods mainly due to costs associated with higher employee non-cash compensation and expenses from our offshore drilling segment which was not yet consolidated in the first quarter of 2008.

Total interest and finance costs increased by $13.9 million to $29.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, compared to $15.1 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2008. This increase primarily stems from the increased amount of average indebtedness during the three month period ended March 31, 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008.

Fleet List

The table below describes our drybulk fleet development and current employment profile as of April 30, 2009:



                   Year                     Gross rate  Redelivery
                   Built    DWT      Type   per day      Earliest    Latest

Fixed rate employment
---------------------
Capesize:
Alameda             2001  170,269  Capesize   $21,000     Feb-11     May-11
Brisbane            1995  151,066  Capesize   $25,000     Dec-11     Apr-12
Capri               2001  172,579  Capesize   $61,000     Apr-18     Jun-18
Flecha              2004  170,012  Capesize   $55,000     Jul-18     Nov-18
Manasota            2004  171,061  Capesize   $67,000     Feb-13     Apr-13
Mystic              2008  170,500  Capesize   $52,310     Aug-18     Dec-18
Samsara             1996  150,393  Capesize   $57,000     Dec-11     Apr-12

Panamax:
Avoca               2004   76,500  Panamax    $45,500     Aug-13     Dec-13
Bargara             2002   74,832  Panamax    $43,750     May-12     Jul-12
Capitola            2001   74,832  Panamax    $39,500     Jun-13     Aug-13
Catalina            2005   74,432  Panamax    $40,000     Jun-13     Aug-13
Ecola               2001   73,931  Panamax    $43,500     Jun-12     Aug-12
Ligari              2004   75,583  Panamax    $55,500     Jun-12     Aug-12
Majorca             2005   74,364  Panamax    $43,750     Jun-12     Aug-12
Mendocino           2002   76,623  Panamax    $56,500     Jun-12     Sep-12
Padre               2004   73,601  Panamax    $46,500     Sep-12     Dec-12
Positano            2000   73,288  Panamax    $42,500     Sep-13     Dec-13
Redondo             2000   74,716  Panamax    $34,500     Apr-13     Jun-13
Saldanha            2004   75,500  Panamax    $52,500     Jun-12     Sep-12
Samatan             2001   74,823  Panamax    $39,500     May-13     Jul-13
Xanadu              1999   72,270  Panamax    $39,750     Jul-13     Sep-13

Supramax:
Paros I (ex
 Clipper Gemini)    2003   51,201  Supramax   $27,135     Oct-11     May-12
Pachino (ex
 VOC Galaxy)        2002   51,201  Supramax   $20,250     Sep-10     Feb-11

Spot rate employment
--------------------
Panamax:
Conquistador         2001  75,607  Panamax
Coronado             2000  75,706  Panamax
Delray               1994  71,862  Panamax
Heinrich Oldendorff  2001  73,931  Panamax
Iguana               1996  70,349  Panamax
La Jolla             1997  72,126  Panamax
Maganari             2001  75,941  Panamax
Marbella             2000  72,561  Panamax
Ocean Crystal        1999  73,688  Panamax
Oregon               2002  74,204  Panamax
Primera              1998  72,495  Panamax
Sonoma               2001  74,786  Panamax
Sorrento             2004  76,633  Panamax
Toro                 1995  73,034  Panamax
New Buildings
N/B-Hull No: 1518A   2009  75,000  Panamax       N/A
N/B-Hull No: 1519A   2009  75,000  Panamax       N/A
N/B-Hull No: 2089    2009 180,000  Capesize      N/A
N/B-Hull No: SS 58   2010  82,000  Kamsarmax     N/A
N/B-Hull No: SS 59   2010  82,000  Kamsarmax     N/A





                         Summary Operating Data

     (Dollars in thousands, except average daily results - unaudited)


                                    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
                                      March 31, 2008       March 31, 2009
                                      --------------       --------------
Average number of vessels(1)                    38.3                 37.7
Total voyage days for vessels(2)               3,452                3,277
Total calendar days for vessels(3)             3,485                3,391
Fleet utilization(4)                              99%                  97%
Time charter equivalent(5)                    63,127               27,115
Vessel operating expenses (daily)(6)           5,100                5,369

----------------------------------------

(1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted our
    fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of
    days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by
    the number of calendar days in that period.
(2) Total voyage days for fleet are the total days the vessels were in our
    possession for the relevant period net of off hire days.
(3) Calendar days are the total days the vessels were in our possession for
    the relevant period including off hire days.
(4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were
    available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by
    dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
(5) Time charter equivalent, or TCE, is a measure of the average daily
    revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. Our method of
    calculating TCE is consistent with industry standards and is determined
    by dividing voyage revenues (net of voyage expenses) by voyage days for
    the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port,
    canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which
    would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract,
    as well as commissions. TCE is a standard shipping industry performance
    measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a
    shipping company's performance despite changes in the mix of charter
    types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under
    which the vessels may be employed between the periods.


                                    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
                                      March 31, 2008       March 31, 2009
                                      --------------       --------------
Voyage revenues                              232,063               97,602
Voyage expenses                              (14,150)              (8,746)
                                      --------------       --------------
Time charter equivalent revenues             217,913               88,856
                                      --------------       --------------
Total voyage days for fleet                    3,452                3,277
Time charter equivalent TCE                   63,127               27,115

(6) Daily vessel operating expenses, which includes crew costs, provisions,
    deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and
    repairs is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet
    calendar days for the relevant time period.





                          Financial Statements

           Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements


                                             Three Months    Three Months
(Dollars in thousands, except for share          Ended          Ended
 and per share data-unaudited)              March 31, 2008  March 31, 2009
                                            --------------  --------------


REVENUES:
Voyage revenues                             $      232,063  $       97,602
Revenues from drilling contracts                         -          99,014
                                            --------------  --------------
                                                   232,063         196,616

EXPENSES:
Voyage expenses                                     14,150           8,746
Vessel operating expenses                           17,773          18,205
Drilling rigs operating expenses                         -          34,027
Depreciation                                        24,418          48,417
Gain on sale of vessels                            (24,443)         (2,438)
Gain on contract cancellation                            -         (15,340)
Contract termination deposits & forfeiture
 of vessels deposits                                     -         166,142
Management fee charged by a related party            2,787           4,142
General & administrative expenses                    2,918          17,349
                                            --------------  --------------

Operating income / (loss)                          194,460         (82,634)

OTHER INCOME / (EXPENSES):
Interest and finance costs, net of interest
 income                                            (12,892)        (26,557)
(Loss) / gain on interest rate swaps                (6,074)          8,718
Other, net                                             (19)          1,539
                                            --------------  --------------
Total other income (expenses), net                 (18,985)        (16,300)
                                            --------------  --------------

Net income / (loss) before taxes                   175,475         (98,934)

Income taxes                                             -          (2,901)
                                            --------------  --------------

Net income / (loss) after taxes and before
 equity in income of investee and minority
 interest                                          175,475        (101,835)

Equity in income of investee                           857               -
                                            --------------  --------------

Net (loss) / income                                176,332        (101,835)
                                            ==============  ==============

Basic and fully diluted earnings / (loss)
 per share                                  $         4.58  $        (0.93)

Weighted average number of shares, basic
 and diluted                                    38,502,864     109,085,118





             Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars       December 31,     March 31,
 except for share and per share data)            2008            2009
                                            --------------- ---------------

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents                 $       303,114 $       215,578
  Restricted cash                                   320,560         506,837
  Trade accounts receivable, net                     52,441          43,155
  Other current assets                               44,312          63,201
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total current assets                              720,427         828,771
                                            --------------- ---------------

FIXED ASSETS, NET:
  Advances for vessels under construction
   and acquisitions                                 535,616         499,403
  Vessels, net                                    2,134,650       2,077,950
  Drilling rigs, machinery and equipment,
   net                                            1,393,158       1,376,745
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total fixed assets, net                         4,063,424       3,954,098
                                            --------------- ---------------

OTHER NON CURRENT ASSETS:
  Other non-current assets                           58,829          66,311
                                            --------------- ---------------
Total non current assets, net                        58,829          66,311
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total assets                              $     4,842,680 $     4,849,180
                                            =============== ===============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt         $     2,370,556 $     1,970,560
  Other current liabilities                         154,492         140,339
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total current liabilities                       2,525,048       2,110,899
                                            --------------- ---------------

NON CURRENT LIABILITIES
 Long term debt, net of current portion             788,314         880,387
 Other non-current liabilities                      237,746         201,692
                                            --------------- ---------------
Total non current liabilities                     1,026,060       1,082,079
                                            --------------- ---------------

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                             -               -

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total stockholders' equity                      1,291,572       1,656,202
                                            --------------- ---------------
  Total liabilities and stockholders'
   equity                                   $     4,842,680 $     4,849,180
                                            =============== ===============

EBITDA Reconciliation

DryShips Inc. considers EBITDA to represent net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP and our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company assesses its liquidity position, it is used by our lenders as a measure of our compliance with certain loan covenants and because the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors regarding a company's ability to service and/or incur indebtedness.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA:

                                             Three Months    Three Months
                                                 Ended          Ended
(Dollars in thousands)                      March 31, 2008  March 31, 2009
                                            --------------- --------------

Net income / (loss)                                 176,332       (101,835)

Add: Net interest expense                            12,892         26,557
Add: Depreciation                                    24,418         48,417
Add: Amortization                                         -          9,346
Add: Income taxes                                         -          2,901

                                            --------------- --------------
EBITDA                                              213,642        (14,614)
                                            =============== ==============

Conference Call and Webcast: May 1st , 2009

As announced, the Company's management team will host a conference call, May 1st , 2009 at 8:30 AM Eastern Standard Time to discuss the Company's financial results.

Conference Call Details

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1(866) 819-7111 (from the US), 0(800) 953-0329 (from the UK) or +(44) 1452 542 301 (from outside the US). Please quote "DryShips."

In case of any problem with the above numbers, please dial 1(866) 223 0615 (from the US), 0(800) 694-1503 (from the UK) or +(44) (0) 1452 586-513 (from outside the US). Quote "DryShips."

A replay of the conference call will be available until May 2, 2009. The United States replay number is 1(866) 247-4222; from the UK 0(800) 953-1533; the standard international replay number is (+44) (0) 1452 55 00 00 and the access code required for the replay is: 2133051#.

A replay of the conference call will also be available on the Company's website at www.dryships.com under the Investor Relations section.

Slides and Audio Webcast

There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the Internet, through the DryShips Inc. website (www.dryships.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

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 42 drybulk carriers comprising 7 Capesize, 28 Panamax, 2 Supramax and 5 newbuilding drybulk vessels, with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 3.8 million tons and two drilling rigs and two drillship hulls.

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

Visit the Company's website at www.dryships.com

Forward-Looking Statement

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 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, dry-docking 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