US District Judge Susie Morgan approved attachment of Highrich’s 37,300-dwt Long Cheer (built 2013) in New Orleans.

Casillo’s trading arm, Casillo Commodities, is aiming to launch arbitration in London, and it is using the vessel seizure to lock in security for its $4.49m claim.

But the company was expected to release the ship quickly after starting negotiations with Highrich, a Dalian-based owner of six ships.

Morgan’s