Sources say the 109,000-dwt products tanker Stavanger Prince (built 2002) has gone to Avin International of Greece for $18.8m.

DSD managing director Ingvald Loyning and managers at Avin could not be reached for comment.

The diversified Norwegian owner suffered heavy losses as a consequence of losing long-term charters with Japanese owner Sanko Steamship.

In 2011 and 2012, it faced combined write-downs of $93m as a result.