UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of March 2009

Commission File Number 001-33922

DRYSHIPS INC.

80 Kifissias Avenue

Amaroussion 15125, Athens Greece

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [  ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [  ].

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

  

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

Attached as Exhibit 1 is a press release of DryShips Inc. (the “Company”), dated March 19, 2009, announcing letter of award for a contract to employ the Leiv Eiriksson for 3 years with Petrobras.

EXHIBIT 1

DRYSHIPS ANNOUNCES LETTER OF AWARD FOR A CONTRACT TO EMPLOY THE LEIV EIRIKSSON FOR 3 YEARS WITH PETROBRAS

Athens, Greece - March 19, 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 that its wholly-owned subsidiary Ocean Rig ASA has received a Letter of Award from Petrobras for a 3-year period employment contract for exploration drilling in the Black Sea. The 3 year term includes mobilization, disassembly and reassembly of the derrick structure for transit through the Bosporus Strait. The contract is expected to commence in direct continuation from the current contract with Shell. The contract value is approximately USD 630 million including an estimated 60 days of mobilization, disassembly/reassembly of the derrick structure and an incentive bonus of 8%.

George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DryShips Inc. commented:

“We are very pleased to be part of this exciting exploration project with Petrobras and see this as an excellent opportunity to expand our relationship with Petrobras, the biggest end-user of ultra deep water units in the world. This will enhance the cash flow stability and visibility of our UDW drilling unit. This recent fixture is testament of the strong fundamentals of the ultra deep water drilling segment which is underpinned by the large exploration and production projects already under way by oil majors and national oil companies.”

About DryShips Inc.

DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner and operator of drybulk carriers 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 about 3.4 million tons, 2 ultra deep water semisubmersible drilling rigs and 2 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.

Investor Relations / Media:

Nicolas Bornozis

Capital Link, Inc. (New York)

Tel. 212-661-7566

E-mail: dryships@capitallink.com

  

  

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.

 

 

	DryShips Inc.
	(Registrant)
Dated:  March 19, 2009	By:  /s/George Economou
		George Economou
		Chief Executive Officer and Interim
		Chief Financial Officer