Shipbroker BRS Group believes the current “curious trend” of big crude tankers cleaning tanks to lift product cargoes is set to continue at the expense of specialist LR2 ships.

The company counts four VLCCs and between nine and 15 suezmaxes as having already made the switch, or about to do so.

These vessels usually carry clean cargoes on maiden voyages from shipyards, while tanks are still uncontaminated by crude.