A new ship finance platform led by a former Deutsche Bank executive and backed by a host of respected investors has emerged.

Maritime Asset Partners - which describes itself as a "non-bank" finance platform, is targeting the shipping and offshore markets at a time when many traditional lenders are stretched or stepping away.

It is led by Nick Roos, who left Deutsche Bank last year, and counts Wafra Capital Partners, Arne Blystad, Birger and Alex Nergaard, Paal and Jannicke Utvik and Axel Stove Lorentzen as investors.

Roos