Nordea has boosted its activity in shipping and offshore this year, ­reversing its behaviour over the past half-decade.

The Nordic bank pledged to increase business in one of its core sectors after Thor-Erik Bech and Geir Atle Lerkerod took over as joint heads of division when Hans Christian Kjelsrud moved to SEB in June.

Lerkerod and Bech were appointed at a time when the bank wanted to take a larger stake in shipping transactions.