Natixis filed a formal claim Friday with a US court to seize a NewLead Holdings vessel that has been idled in Baltimore Harbour since last September.

The French bank says it has a first preferred mortgage on the 5,900-dwt Newlead Granadino (built 2009) partially backed a $17.8m loan made to NewLead-controlled entities in 2008.

The loan is also backed by the 3,400-dwt Nepheli (built 2009), which has also been seized by Natixis and is moored in Piraeus.

Natixis