The Navig8 group has formed its first commercial alliance with Ecuadorian state oil company Flopec in a deal centring on a single suezmax tanker — at least for now.

Navig8 confirmed the alliance this week after rumours that Flopec’s chartered-in 149,999-dwt Odessa (built 2013) had entered the Suez8 pool.

“The specifics surrounding our commercial understanding must remain confidential,” said Navig8’s US-based commercial director Jason Klopfer.