Recent weeks have seen the culmination of a huge legal battle between two shipping companies that claim they do not exist.

Shagang Shipping Co Ltd and Grand China Shipping Co Ltd (GCS), two Hong Kong-domiciled mainland Chinese companies that are now in liquidation, are carrying on their long and often-reported battle beyond the grave — both with well-funded legal teams thanks to real, live sponsors pulling the strings but in a state of corporate non-existence.