Uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis and Russian sanctions allowed VLCC owners to drive up rates further on Friday.
Pools giant Tankers International reported Chinese charterer Unipec setting a new benchmark of Worldscale (WS) 39 on two vessels loading in March in the Middle East.
The ships are the 297,200-dwt Trafigura-controlled Mercury Hope (built 2011) and Delta Tankers’ 320,000-dwt Delta Glory (built 2012).
