Shadow fleet VLCC finds legitimate path to compliant market in Gulf trade
- Demand for risk-tolerant tankers makes previously unemployable shadow fleet ships a viable option to lift mainstream cargo
- Relatively low risk of sanctions repercussions from the US for those engaging ‘clean’ shadow fleet tankers
- Middle East Gulf trade can be extremely profitable for shadow fleet owners given elevated rates
A 26-year-old VLCC previously engaged in Venezuela operations has become the latest shadow fleet tanker to revert to mainstream trades as the Hormuz crisis fuels demand for ‘risk tolerant’ tankers
