A UK court has ruled that the identity of a whistleblower in the controversial $77m Brillante Virtuoso scuttling case can be revealed, despite fears he will be killed.

The case concerns a constructive total loss (CTL) claim under a war risks policy for the 150,000-dwt tanker (built 1992), which is being defended by Lloyds' underwriters on the grounds that its owner conspired to blow it up.