A two-tier tanker market could develop in 2020 based on whether or not vessels are fitted with scrubbers, says analyst Alphatanker.

Current long-term charter requirements suggest that tankers with scrubbers will be hired out under time charters and those without will “largely be left to trade in the spot market".

Alphatanker says tanker owners could soon be searching for any available avenue to install a scrubber before the IMO sulphur cap kicks in January 2020.

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