Owners of VLCCs have been painstakingly building up rates this week, but for owners of million-barrel tankers, the last month's gains have come crashing back down. "(VLCC) tonnage is relatively scarce, especially for early positions, while enquiry is plentiful, and we expect some good times ahead from an owner's perspective," said Oslo ship broker Fearnleys. Westbound VLCCs from the Mideast Gulf gained five points during the week to reach W89, while eastbound VLCCs gained four points to reach W104. VLCCs out of West Africa saw plentiful enquiry at the start of the week, in part by moving in on million-barrel business, brokers said. Transatlantic VLCC freight on Friday was W117.
