Venture capital-backed Garthcliff Shipping has acquired its first ship with the purchase of a 2001-built Bangkokmax container vessel.

It acquired the 1,200-teu Sentosa following a £5.5m ($7.7m) investment in the UK-based shipowner by venture capital trusts (VCT) and enterprise investment schemes (EIS) fund manager Downing LLP.

An additional equity investment is said to have been made by the vessel management company alongside the investment by Downing.