The capital markets will open their doors to tanker owners next year ahead of an upturn in the freight market, veteran shipowner Craig Stevenson Jr believes.

Diamond S Shipping boss Stevenson made the call at a Nordea Markets forum in London today as he suggested now was a good time to invest in the tanker market.

“I think ‘18 is a turnaround year,” Stevenson told an audience at the Intercontinental Hotel.