Questions are being asked about the charter rates concluded in December on four LNG carriers at the centre of a dispute between the ships’ shareholders — US equity firm MatlinPatterson and Greek shipowner George Economou’s interests.

The charters were cited in a December US court filing by Oceanus LNG, in which MatlinPatterson is the lead shareholder.

Oceanus said the charters had been concluded at sub-market rates and against its board’s directions in an attempt by Economou and his son Christos to gain control over the ships.