The sale effectively refinances the Gem-class quartet — the 155,000-cbm British Emerald (built 2007), British Ruby, British Sapphire and British Diamond (all built 2008).

The vessels are on bareboat charter deals back to BP, with around seven to eight years to run on their contracts.

TradeWinds reported last week that RBS had finalised the sale of its lead stake in a 15-year UK tax lease on the quartet.

The