The state-backed bank has stepped forward to help Diana Containerships fund its two newest acquisitions, an SEC filing revealed.

Diana Containerships says the bank has delivered an offer letter for a $150m term loan.

The cash will help the owner pay for the 6,500-teu Rotterdam and Hamburg (built 2008 and 2009) which it bought last week for $37.5m and $38.5m respectively.

As TradeWinds reported on Friday, long term RBS executive Andy Georgiou remains active in discussing new business in Greece while the bank undertakes a strategic review of its shipping business.

Ironically, executives of sibling company Diana Shipping were asked about the potential RBS withdrawal from shipping during its conference call on Friday.

President Stacey Margaronis replied: “RBS is very old established bank that know shipping very well. And I don’t think that whatever they do, they will do it in a disorderly manner.”

As TradeWinds reported in the print edition last week the efforts of RBS to sell its $16bn shipping book are part of its plan to become a UK centered bank.