Private entities within the Scorpio Group have sold off some 20m shares – or nearly 95% of their holding – in financially struggling Hermitage Offshore Services since April.

That includes large blocks divested in the past few weeks as the offshore vessel owner navigates its way through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The sales leave the Emanuele Lauro-led Scorpio, the private group controlled by the Lolli-Ghetti family, with only 1m remaining shares in New York-listed Hermitage, or a 3.2%