Norwegian shipowner and investor Tom Steckmest has emerged as chairman of the companies in control of the former fleet of Polarcus.

The move took place a week after Norway's DNB Bank and export credit agency Giek repossessed six of Oslo-listed Polarcus' specialised seismic fleet.

On 26 January, Polarcus announced that the lenders had stopped extending covenant waivers, triggered a mortgage default and unexpectedly seized the ships.