The Marshall Islands is carrying out inspections of all 12 very large ore carriers that were converted from tankers and that are registered under the country's shipping flag.

Inspection teams have already checked seven of the ships, with five more remaining. A spokesman told TradeWinds the flag state cannot comment on the inspections carried out so far.

The moves come in the wake of the March sinking of Polaris Shipping's 266,000-dwt, which was followed by reports of problems on other similar vessels in the bulker owner's VLOC fleet.