KNOT Offshore Partners Chief Executive John Costain sees a “tight” market for shuttle tankers this year as oil production outside of Opec countries ramps up. But further growth may be a challenge as the company’s pipeline of dropdown candidates tapers off.

The Trygve Seglem-controlled partnership reported operating earnings that were better than Wall Street consensus estimates. In addition, the company announced the dropdown of the 157,000-dwt Tordis Knutsen (built 2016) from parent Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers.

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