The senior associate at ship finance specialist Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) told TradeWinds the Asian giant had been very cautious in the early years of the financial crisis, but money for new orders could keep coming.

Greek owners including Costamare last month clinched Chinese financing worth $1.5bn for new vessels.

“The next 12 to 18 months will be very interesting,” Spells said.

Spells