Shipmanagement companies are sensing an opportunity as the industry gears up for the introduction of the IMO's 2020 legislation.

Tanker owners have drawn parallels between the new rules and the introduction of the Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA 90) in the US, which led to the phasing out of single-hull vessels.

While the demolition stemming from OPA 90 was beneficial to the freight market, the arrival of more complex rules helped the growth and maturity of third-party shipmanagement services.