A wholescale takeover of the fleet controlled by Rickmers Holding is looking increasingly unlikely.

Administrators have identified parts of the insolvent company they want to sell, which they have limited to a selection of half-a-dozen post-panamax boxships and some shipping service operations, Hamburg sources say.

The plan puts paid to the prospect that the whole fleet could find a single buyer and points to the ­aspiration of managers to continue with a slimmed-down version of the company.