Diana Shipping may spend up to $12m on repurchasing several million shares, after taking a year off from buy-backs.

The Simeon Palios-led bulker owner has proposed buying back 6m shares — or about 6.7% of the company — at $2.00 each with cash attained from selling some of its ships.

New York-listed Diana decided to use funds from the sales after considering whether to keep the money, repay debt, acquire new vessels or repurchase common stock, a source close to the...