Oslo-listed IMS on Tuesdayturned in a loss of $6.7m for the three months to 31 March, against a gain of$1.7m in the comparable period a year prior.

In the company’s first-quarterearnings report management noted it recently withdrew tonnage from the MiddleEast, which took a toll on the bottom line.

“As aconsequence of the repositioning we have experienced a much higher than normalcommercial idle time with a negative impact on the TCE for our fleet,” it said.

Goingforward