London’s shipbroking sector may suffer casualties as a result of the business fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic, according to Affinity (Shipping) managing partner and founder Richard Fulford-Smith.

The influential broker said: “I think there are a number of companies which will fail.”

As he and his more than 200 staff at Affinity are working from home under the UK's new countrywide restrictions, he added that there are several companies that are already in difficulties.