Copenhagen: The cfo of struggling Danish tanker owner Torm has tendered his resignation.

Hamburg: Amid strong 2012 profits of $104m, German shipping financier NordLB has claimed that the worst of shipping’s woes is over.

Piraeus: Navios Group has agreed to acquire 10 ships with $130m in cash and $170m in loan from the debtors of HSH Nordbank through a new joint venture named Navios JV.

Singapore: First Ship Lease (FSL) Trust reported a larger net loss in the first quarter over the previous year due largely to its exposure to Torm.

Hong Kong: Marine fuels supplier Brightoil Petroleum inked a loan facility of up to $30m for a term of three years from China Development Bank Corporation Hong Kong Branch.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian state oil and gas firm Petronas has failed in its bid to take shipping firm MISC private.

Oslo: SinOceanic Shipping (SinOceanic) is nearing a deal to refinance $205m of junior debts as negotiations continue between 81.9% owners Sinindo Holdings (Sinindo), creditor Oceanus International (Oceanus) and a Chinese bank.

Antwerp: Belgian dry bulk outfit Bocimar reported a loss of $820,000 in the first quarter as rates fell year on year.

Shanghai: Badly secured breakbulk cargoes are coming loose and putting lives and vessels at risk – especially in China - according to a report from the North P&I club.

New York: Maersk’s Group's ceo Nils Andersen (pictured), visiting New York this week, was honored by ringing the opening bell at the NASDAQ marketplace, adjacent to the iconic Times Square.