Ansheng Shipping is still paying bareboat charter hire on time and in full, despite the legal contro­versy surrounding parent group Antong Holdings, Chinese financial sources say.

Market observers said the containership owner’s troubles and those of its main shareholders have given a clear advantage to ­rival private carrier Zhonggu Shipping in the domestic liner trade.

Last week, Antong disclosed a new set of lawsuits against Antong-­related entities and the company’s major shareholders, brothers Guo Dongze and Guo Dongsheng, with claims in the hundreds of millions of dollars.