Greek tanker owner Top Ships has branched out into a new charter market: luxury yachts.

The US-listed owner of eight modern crude and product vessels said a wholly owned subsidiary is paying $20m to buy a “mega-yacht” from an affiliate of chief executive Evangelos Pistiolis, whose family is also the controlling shareholder.

The 47-metre Para Bellum was built last year at Sanlorenzo Yachts in Italy and has capacity for 12 guests and a crew of 10.