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 June 2018

Commission File Number 001-33922

DRYSHIPS INC.

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

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.

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF DRYSHIPS INC.:

Enclosed is a Notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of DryShips Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the "Company"), which will be held at the Company's offices located at 109 Kifissias Avenue and Sina Street, GR 151 24, Marousi, Athens, Greece on July 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. local time, and related materials. The Notice of the Meeting and related materials can also be found at http://drys.agmdocuments.com/AGM2018.html.

At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company will consider and vote upon the following proposals:

1.

To elect two Class B Directors to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Proposal One");

2.

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 ("Proposal Two"); and

3.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote for the election of the proposed Class B Directors to the Board of Directors (Proposal One) and for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 (Proposal Two).

Only holders of record of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares") at the close of business on June 4, 2018 will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. As of the record date, the Common Shares were the only type of Company capital stock outstanding.

Provided that a quorum is present, in the election of directors (Proposal One), the two persons receiving the highest number of "FOR" votes at the Meeting will be elected. Adoption of Proposal Two requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of Common Shares entitled to vote thereon.

You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person. All shareholders must present a form of personal photo identification in order to be admitted to the Meeting. In addition, if your Common Shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to attend the Meeting, you must bring an account statement or letter from the broker, bank or other nominee indicating that you were the owner of the Common Shares on June 4, 2018.

If you attend the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your Common Shares in person. If your Common Shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you intend to vote in person at the Meeting, you must present a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee in order to vote. Shareholders should speak to their brokers, banks or other nominees in whose custody their Common Shares are held for additional information.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU CAN ALSO VOTE BY INTERNET AND TELEPHONE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PROXY CARD. IF YOU HAVE ELECTED TO RECEIVE YOUR PROXY MATERIALS OVER THE INTERNET, PLEASE VOTE BY INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE PROXY MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. THE VOTE OF EVERY SHAREHOLDER IS IMPORTANT AND YOUR COOPERATION IN RETURNING YOUR EXECUTED PROXY PROMPTLY WILL BE APPRECIATED.

ANY SIGNED PROXY RETURNED AND NOT COMPLETED WILL BE VOTED BY MANAGEMENT "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE PROPOSED CLASS B DIRECTORS FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS AND "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG (HELLAS) CERTIFIED AUDITORS ACCOUNTANTS S.A. AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2018.

The Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 20-F (the "2017 Annual Report"), which contains the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, is available on the Company's website at www.dryships.com and can also be found at http://drys.agmdocuments.com/AGM2018.html. Any shareholder may request to receive a hard copy of the Company's 2017 Annual Report, free of charge upon request.

DRYSHIPS INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2018

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of DryShips Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the "Company") will be held at the Company's offices located at 109 Kifissias Avenue and Sina Street, GR 151 24, Marousi, Athens, Greece on July 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. local time, for the following purposes, of which items 1 and 2 are more completely set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

1.

To elect two Class B Directors to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Proposal One"); and

2.

To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 ("Proposal Two").

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 4, 2018 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of the shareholders entitled to receive notice and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Holders of shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares") on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder of record on the Record Date is entitled to one (1) vote for each Common Share. Shareholders of record holding at least one third of our issued and outstanding Common Shares and who are entitled to vote at the Meeting in person or by proxy shall be a quorum for the purposes of the Meeting.

You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting in person. All shareholders must present a form of personal photo identification in order to be admitted to the Meeting. In addition, if your Common Shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to attend the Meeting, you must bring an account statement or letter from the broker, bank or other nominee indicating that you were the owner of the Common Shares as of the Record Date.

If you attend the Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your Common Shares in person. If your Common Shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you intend to vote in person at the Meeting, you must present a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee in order to vote. Shareholders should speak to their brokers, banks or other nominees in whose custody their Common Shares are held for additional information.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU CAN ALSO VOTE BY INTERNET AND TELEPHONE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PROXY CARD. IF YOU HAVE ELECTED TO RECEIVE YOUR PROXY MATERIALS OVER THE INTERNET, PLEASE VOTE BY INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE PROXY MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. THE VOTE OF EVERY SHAREHOLDER IS IMPORTANT AND YOUR COOPERATION IN RETURNING YOUR EXECUTED PROXY PROMPTLY WILL BE APPRECIATED. ANY SIGNED PROXY RETURNED AND NOT COMPLETED WILL BE VOTED BY MANAGEMENT "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE PROPOSED CLASS B DIRECTORS FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS AND "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG (HELLAS) CERTIFIED AUDITORS ACCOUNTANTS S.A. AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2018.

The Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 20-F (the "2017 Annual Report"), which contains the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, is available on the Company's website at www.dryships.com. Any shareholder may receive a hard copy of the Company's 2017 Annual Report, free of charge upon request. This Notice of the Meeting, the Proxy Statement and related materials, including the Company's 2017 Annual Report, can also be found at http://drys.agmdocuments.com/AGM2018.html.

June 25, 2018
Athens, Greece

 

___________________________

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2018

___________________________

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of DryShips Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the "Company"), for use at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on July 16, 2018 at the Company's offices located at 109 Kifissias Avenue and Sina Street, GR 151 24 Marousi, Athens, Greece at 4:00 p.m. local time, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. This Proxy Statement together with the Notice of Meeting and certain other related materials are expected to be mailed to shareholders of the Company entitled to vote at the Meeting on or about June 25, 2018. These materials, along with the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 20-F, which contains the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, can also be found at http://drys.agmdocuments.com/AGM2018.html.

On June 4, 2018 (the "Record Date"), the Company had outstanding 100,027,797 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Shares"). Each shareholder of record at the close of business on the Record Date is entitled to one (1) vote for each Common Share. One or more shareholders representing at least one third of our issued and outstanding Common Shares, whether represented in person or by proxy, and who are entitled to vote at the Meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of the Meeting. The Common Shares represented by any proxy in the enclosed form will be voted in accordance with the instructions given on the proxy if the proxy is properly executed and is received by the Company prior to the close of voting at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Any proxies returned without instructions will be voted "for" the election of Harry Kerames and George Kokkodis to the Board, as Class B Directors, for three-year terms and "for" the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting or, even if a quorum is so present, in the event that sufficient votes in favor of the positions recommended by the Board of Directors on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement are not timely received, the majority of Common Shares present at the Meeting in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the Meeting. If the Meeting is adjourned for reasons other than a lack of quorum, no further notice of the adjourned Meeting will be required other than announcement at the Meeting of the time and place to which the Meeting is adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies.

The Common Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "DRYS."

A shareholder giving a proxy may revoke such proxy at any time before it is exercised. A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal executive office, 109 Kifissias Avenue and Sina Street, GR 151 24 Marousi, Athens, Greece, a written notice of revocation by a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. If your Common Shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you intend to vote in person at the Meeting, you must present a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee in order to vote. Shareholders should speak to their brokers, banks or other nominees in whose custody their Common Shares are held for additional information.

PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company has six directors on the Board of Directors, which is divided into three classes. As provided in the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, each director is elected to serve for a three-year term and until such director's successor is duly elected and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation, removal or earlier termination of his term of office. The term of our Class B Directors expires at the Meeting. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has nominated Messrs. Harry Kerames and George Kokkodis, both current Class B Directors, for election as Class B Directors whose terms would expire at the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Unless the proxy is marked to indicate that such authorization is expressly withheld, the persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote the Common Shares authorized thereby FOR the election of the following nominees. It is expected that the nominees will be able to serve, but if the nominees are unavailable, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote for the election of substitute nominees as the current Board of Directors may recommend.

Nominees for Election to the Company's Board of Directors

Information concerning the nominees for director of the Company is set forth below:

Certain biographical information of the nominees is set forth below.

Mr. Harry Kerames was appointed to the Board of Directors on July 29, 2009. Mr. Kerames has over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. Mr. Kerames is the President and founder of Blue Star LLC, a marine consultant and advisory firm. Mr. Kerames has been the Managing Director of Global Capital Finance, where he was responsible for the firm's shipping practice. Prior to joining Global Capital Finance in 2006, he was the chief marketing officer at Charles R. Weber Company Inc., where he brokered the freight derivative business and co-founded Azimuth Fund Management, a freight derivatives hedge fund. Mr. Kerames has also held various directorships, senior level marketing positions, and consultative roles with Illinois Central Railroad, Genstar Corporation, Motive Power Industries, Hub Group Distribution Services, ITEL Rail Corporation, IBM and was a director at OceanFreight Inc. Mr. Kerames is a member of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, and the Connecticut Maritime Association. Mr. Kerames graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Kerames is the chairman of the Company's Audit and Nominating Committees.

Mr. George Kokkodis was appointed to the Board of Directors as of November 21, 2017. From 2009 to January 2015, Mr. Kokkodis was an independent business introducer and independent client advisor of financial investments at BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA, where he was a senior private banker from 2003 to 2009 and the head of the Greek Private Banking Desk at BNP Paribas London from 1999 to 2003. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Kokkodis was Vice President of Private Banking at Merrill Lynch International Bank, London UK and, from 1996 to 1998 held the same position at Merrill Lynch Bank Suisse S.A. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Private Banking at Bankers Trust International PLC, London U.K. from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Kokkodis holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Glasgow. Mr. Kokkodis was a member of the board of directors of MIG Real Estate from April 2011 to September 2015. Mr. Kokkodis acted as a banking consultant to the Vancouver International Maritime Centre, Vancouver, Canada (V.I.M.C) until November 2016. Mr. Kokkodis was a member of the board of directors of Ocean Rig UDW Inc. from September 2015 to November 2017.

Required Vote. The two persons receiving the highest number of "FOR" votes represented by Common Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting will be elected.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"THE ELECTION OF HARRY KERAMES AND GEORGE KOKKODIS TO THE BOARD, AS CLASS B DIRECTORS, FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED DIRECTORS UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED.

PROPOSAL TWO

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors is submitting for ratification at the Meeting the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. ("Ernst & Young") as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

Ernst & Young has advised the Company that the firm does not have any direct or indirect financial interest in the Company, nor has such firm had any such interest in connection with the Company during the past three fiscal years other than in its capacity as the Company's independent auditors.

All services rendered by the independent auditors are subject to review by the audit committee of the Company's Board of Directors.

Required Vote. Approval of Proposal Two will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of the Common Shares entitled to vote thereon.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF PROPOSAL TWO. UNLESS REVOKED AS PROVIDED ABOVE, PROXIES RECEIVED BY MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUCH RATIFICATION UNLESS A CONTRARY VOTE IS SPECIFIED.

EFFECT OF ABSTENTIONS

An "abstention" occurs when a shareholder sends in a proxy with explicit instructions to decline to vote regarding a particular matter (other than the election of directors for which the choice is limited to "for" or "withhold"). Abstentions are counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum. However, because abstentions are not voted affirmatively or negatively, they will have no effect on the approval of any of the proposals.

OTHER MATTERS

No other matters are expected to be presented for action at the Meeting. Should any additional matter come before the Meeting, it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons named in the proxy.

June 25, 2018
Athens, Greece

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