Tankers kept up their October rally this week.

The Baltic Dirty Tanker Index added 65 points this week, rising from 727 to finish at 763 on Friday, when the index added 13 points.

Both the Baltic Exchange and Gibson Shipbrokers reported a gradually firming market as activity picks up in their end of week notes.

"A good amount of VLCC activity throughout the week has enabled owners to push levels on, albeit gradually," Gibsons said of the Middle East Gulf market.