Easing US shadow fleet sanctions would free few tankers, analysts tell Reuters

Traders and analysts told Reuters on 15 October that a Trump administration idea to ease sanctions on tankers that have carried sanctioned oil would do little to increase the supply of ships. Ship-tracking firm Kpler counts about 160 supertankers under US sanctions, but its figures suggest only about 24 could rejoin mainstream trade once older ships and those owned by Iran's National Tanker Company are excluded. David Tannenbaum of Blackstone Compliance Services noted that EU sanctions would still apply to Russia-linked tankers and said companies were unlikely to charter recently sanctioned ships. Analysts also pointed to missing class certificates and credible insurance. A US official told Reuters the change would lower freight rates and increase flows.

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