The UN secretary general has told governments which are bailing out cash-strapped shipping companies during the coronavirus pandemic that they should insist on the use of low-carbon fuel.

Antonio Guterres' comments were made at the International Energy Agency Clean Energy Transitions Summit on Thursday.

The list of shipping companies receiving state-backed loans and backing during the worsening global economic crisis include France’s CMA CGM, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Singapore’s Pacific International Lines and Taiwan’s Evergreen.