OSV giant Solstad Offshore is seeking a debt repayment freeze as it tries to boost liquidity in tough offshore markets.

The Oslo-listed company said it wants to suspend interest and amortisation instalments temporarily from 20 December.

But to press ahead with this deal, the world's biggest owner of high-end offshore ships needs bondholder approval for a concurrent halt of interest payments on a NOK 1bn ($117m) five-year series expiring next year.