Report of Foreign Issuer (6-k)

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 May 2017

Commission File Number 001-33922

DRYSHIPS INC.

109 Kifissias Avenue and Sina Street

151 24, Marousi

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

DryShips Inc. (the "Company") is furnishing the following information pursuant to certain disclosure requirements contained in its Audit Committee Charter concerning the approval of related-party transactions. On May 10, 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement with an entity affiliated with the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer , Mr. George Economou, to acquire one 158,000 deadweight tons Suezmax tanker currently under construction in China. On May 24, 2017, the Company announced it had taken delivery of the vessel. Under the terms of the agreement, the vessel was acquired for a total gross purchase price of approximately $64.0 million, which was paid with cash on hand. Upon delivery the vessel was chartered back to the seller under a five year time charter plus optional periods in charterer's option at a base rate plus profit share. The charterer has also been granted purchase options at the end of each firm period. The transaction was approved by the audit committee of the Company's Board of Directors and the independent members of the Company's Board of Directors taking into account independent third-party broker charter free valuations certificates and the long-term employment on a fixed rate basis plus profit share, provided by the seller . No other advisors were retained in connection with the transactions.

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.