V.Ships, the world’s largest shipmanager, has secured a contract in China to handle a Cosco joint-venture cruiseship — but it is rejecting claims that it waived monthly fees to score the win.

Three other major international players lost out when V.Ships Leisure won the bidding to handle the technical and hotel management of the 69,800-gt Oriana (built 1995) when it is handed over to its new Chinese owner — Twinkle Travel Cruise International Co — in August next year.