A deal to bankroll one or more of Shandong Landbridge's VLCC newbuildings ordered at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) would mark a breakthrough for conservative Chinese lease finance.

But TradeWinds understands that talk of a done deal with the yard's sister company, CSIC Leasing, is premature and the transaction is facing competition from Europe amid a slowdown in deals for China's financial lessors.