Despite being unable to pay crew on at least one of his ships, Yudhi Khatau, boss of India's Varun Shipping, is being linked with a ship purchase. Brokers said that Varun has come in for BW Gas's 15-year-old, Kawasaki Hwavy-built BW Borg. The 84,333cbm VLGC has been sold for US$40.5m in a deal that includes a two-year time charter back. BW Gas is in the midst of a significant fleet rejuvenation.

Not for the first time India's Varun Shipping was recently shamed by its failure to look after its crew.

Reuters reported a week ago that crew on the Amba Bhakti tanker, stranded off Shanghai, have not been paid since February. The crew hail from India and Bangladesh and are now owed tens of thousands of dollars.