Charterers go under the radar as brokers struggle to get a fix on VLCC rates

Brokers and analysts are finding it tough to get a true measure of VLCC markets due to a lack of fixture details.

Gibson Shipbrokers of the UK said the last seven-day period had been a "difficult" week for VLCC owners, albeit with a "good number" of fixtures concluded.

"Yet, with so much being covered under the radar, there was never any opportunity to build any momentum and as such rates continue to languish," the shipbroker added.