US sanctions relief unlikely to ease tanker crisis, Kpler says

Kpler analysis suggests that reported US plans to ease sanctions on shadow fleet tankers would have limited impact on record freight rates, as only 24 of ~160 sanctioned VLCCs could return to mainstream trade due to age and ownership restrictions. War risk premiums in the Middle East Gulf, not vessel availability, are the primary driver of freight costs, indicating that sanctions relief alone will not resolve the tanker crisis.