A Greek-Italian joint venture aiming to take over the assets of Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Co (GBSC) is sticking to its offer for the cash-strapped Italian company, despite an initial court ruling in Naples that has blocked it.

“Strongly believing the validity of its proposal, Lighthouse has appealed the [court] decision,” an official with the joint venture, formed by the Zagari and Pappas shipping families through their companies Augustea Holdings and Oceanbulk Maritime, told TradeWinds in a statement.