UK-based VLCC pool operator Tankers International has officially pushed into the suezmax market, broadening its platform as crude trades and trading patterns continue to shift. The move marks a significant expansion for the company, long known as a VLCC specialist, and comes with the formation of a dedicated suezmax pool. As part of the launch, US tanker owner International Seaways — which completed the acquisition of full ownership of Tankers International by taking CMB.TECH stake — will place its spot-trading vessels into the new pool. Tankers International said the expansion gives charterers and pool partners greater flexibility by offering multiple transportation options across crude markets, while allowing the platform to cover cargoes and routes not accessible to VLCCs. A standalone suezmax pool is expected to improve optionality across overlapping crude flows, while allowing the company to leverage its existing scale, market intelligence and operational expertise across both vessel classes. The operator said this should support stronger earnings potential and better decision-making for both VLCC and suezmax partners. While new in execution, the move has been some time in the making. Back in 2023, Tankers International chief executive Charlie Grey told Splash that the company was actively looking beyond VLCCs, pointing to suezmaxes as a natural next step as the market demanded more flexibility. At the time, Grey said the business was focused on timing and structure rather than rushing into new segments. That groundwork has now translated into action. “Today’s announcement is very much the culmination of a strategic plan that has been years in the making, and signals the start of a new, exciting phase for Tankers International,” Grey said. While VLCCs remain central to the company’s identity, Grey said the shift reflects the need to adapt. “We recognised that there is an overarching need for greater agility and flexibility amid a rapidly changing global marketplace,” he said, adding: “We believe that agility is the new stability.” Grey noted that expanding the pool structure would also improve data depth, giving pool members access to broader market insights while retaining the same governance model, with Tankers International managing operations and each member holding an equal vote. International Seaways chief executive Lois Zabrocky said the suezmax expansion opens up new opportunities as the company enters its next phase under full ownership. “We’re excited about Tankers International’s expansion into the suezmax sector,” Zabrocky said, describing the move as a natural evolution of a partnership that stretches back more than 25 years. She said the combined platform is now well positioned for growth, with a clearer strategy and wider market reach. For Tankers International, the addition of suezmaxes signals a shift from being a single-segment pool to a broader crude shipping platform — one built to handle a more fragmented and fast-moving market. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsUnited Kingdom United States