A pick-up in the panamax market has come too late for three modern ships managed by Reederei Rudolf Schepers.

Insolvency proceedings have been launched on the 4,256-teu Bernhard-S, Lena-S (both built 2010) and Rudolph Schepers (built 2009).

The move comes despite the promising rise in the charter market as Chinese and other Asian players start taking vessels at much more attractive amounts.

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