The online auction of aboxship at the centre of a legal row was over almost as soon as it began.

Marshall Islands-registered Robin 4 Shipping quickly outbid its only competitor, Virgo Shipping and Trading, winning the 2,872-teu Arica (built 2007) for $6.5m.

Bidding was conducted via video conferencing system Zoom and presided over by a US marshal. It started at $1.61m, with Virgo's representative, Faidon Panagiotopoulos, lodging a $1.73m offer before Robin 4 placed its winning bid.

Robin 4, whose ultimate backer was not revealed, was represented by attorney Jane Freeberg Sarma of Reed Smith.

The entire process lasted just a few minutes.

The company takes control of the Arica at a slight discount, with VesselsValue suggesting it is worth $7.2m.

Robin 4 Shipping's ownership interests are unclear. It was incorporated in April, according to documents from the Marshall Islands corporate registry.

Its bid was made on credit from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

On 6 July, the bank filed papers in the lawsuit asserting its claim on the ship, as it holds a loan of up to $92.1m issued in 2017 to FS Arica and four other companies.

Claims had piled up

The Arica was arrested in Delaware in May by Turkish companies Atlas Uluslararasi Kumanyacilik and Atlas Gemi Vanalari, which provided it with wires, cables and valves last autumn worth $100,000.

German bunker supplier Deutsche Calpam joined the lawsuit shortly thereafter, alleging that registered owner FS Arica failed to pay for 175 tonnes of marine gasoil worth $152,000.

Network Shipping followed, accusing FS Arica of breaching its charter and arguing that it was owed $333,000.

FS Arica never contested the lawsuit and in June the ship was ordered to be sold.

This was the third online auction handled by UK shipbroker CW Kellock.

Last week, the 32,600-dwt SAM Eagle (built 2010) was auctioned in a similar process with more than 30 bids from at least four participants before Liberian outfit Melinda Maritime won with a $4.74m offer.

In May, CW Kellock oversaw the auction of the 24,306-dwt Evolution (built 1995) following a legal dispute over cargo between owner Smooth Navigation and Carl Schroter.

Marshall Islands firm Wickwar Shipping won that auction, with a bid of $1.34m.