Diana Shipping is refinancing the debt on six of its vessels with a sustainability-linked loan.

The deal sees the New York-listed shipowner join a still small but growing list of shipowners that is turning to finance tied to sustainability loans.

The Semiramis Paliou-led owner of 37 bulkers signed a $91m sustainability-linked loan facility with ABN Amro to refinance money owed on a panamax, a kamsarmax, two capesizes and two newcastlemaxes.

The vessels are the 76,942-dwt Artemis (built 2006), 82,194-dwt Medusa (built 2010), 179,246-dwt Santa Barbara (built 2015), 180,960-dwt New Orleans (built 2015), 206,040-dwt Philadelphia (built 2012) and 206,104-dwt Los Angeles (built 2015).

New York-listed Diana did not immediately return calls seeking further information.

“The added sustainability aspect is essential not only for the potential additional cost savings, but more importantly because it is in line with the company’s commitment towards its long-term sustainability goals," chief executive Paliou said in a statement.

The company follows Seaspan Corp, Euronav and SFL Corp on the roster of US-listed shipowners that have sought sustainability-linked debt.

The Athens-based company's total debt stood at $423m at the end of last year, according to a prospectus for a $200m shelf registration filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Diana's fleet consists of 11 panamaxes, five post-panamaxes, five kamsarmaxes, 12 capesizes and four newcastlemaxes.

The company expects to deliver one of those panamaxes — the 73,500-dwt Naias (built 2006) — to an unnamed buyer by 31 July. Diana announced the $11.3m sale in mid-March.

Shares of Diana, which plans to report first-quarter earnings on Friday, have jumped almost 11% to $4.29 within the first 90 minutes of trading on Tuesday.

Eric Martin contributed to this story.