The bank said 14 ships “at serious risk of insolvency” are being bought by the Angeliki Frangou-led owner.

Seven of these are boxships and seven are bulkers, with an average age of around four years.

The second so-called Nautilus transaction is worth “nine digits” in US dollars – at least $100m.

HSH added that the move eases pressure on its balance sheet and helps to wind down its “legacy assets” of under-performing vessel loans as a result of the last financial crash.

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