Cosco's newly unveiled investment arm plans to cast a broad net in its search for foreign partners in shipfinance — maybe starting with former colleagues of its leader, Chinese-Norwegian financier Dr Jin Hai.

But first, the new entity billed as Cosco Shipping Funds (Preparatory) (CSF), is scouting major Chinese institutions as investors.

"It is definitely not an internal investment fund," the CSF executive director and general manager told TradeWinds.