VLCC rates climbed to a six-month high in a week that saw a rare case of a large tanker carrying a US export cargo to Asia.

The 318,000-dwt Overseas Rosalyn (built 2003) loaded a cargo off Galveston, according to satellite tracking data from VesselValue. The cargo was apparently transshipped from smaller vessels.

The Overseas Shipholding Group-owned VLCC is headed to China.

MJLF analyst Court Smith

The voyage is one of the first US loadings on a VLCC since crude exports were liberalised late last year and opens the possibility of a tonne-mile rich trade.

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