Eastwind Maritime filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, a day after Nordea revealed the foreclosure and sale of 13 of its ships.
The troubled New York-based owner filed the petition in a US federal court seeking Chapter 7 liquidation, rather than a Chapter 11 reorganisation.
The filing does not give exact numbers as to the company's debt, although it says that it is between $500m and $1bn. Assets are listed in the same range.
The company has asked Judge Allan Gropper, of the southern federal district in New York, to allow it extra time to file a list of 200 to 999 creditors.
The bankruptcy includes a list of 55 affiliated companies, including Eurus Container Carriers, which was among companies Nordea said it sold.
As TradeWinds reported Tuesday, the Nordic bank said it took control of companies controlling 10 containerships, two bulkers and a reefer and sold them to Sammy Ofer's Samama.
Market players have been expecting a bankruptcy from Eastwind in recent weeks, as the company has suffered lawsuits, vessel arrests and the loss of a major management contract.
It is not immediately clear from the terse filing whether there are elements of the Eastwind group that are not included in the bankruptcy.
Clarkson Research lists Eastwind Maritime as controlling 56 containerships, reefers, bulk carriers, fish carriers and chemical tankers, including newbuildings.
