Vitol has been the most aggressive period charterer for tankers in the past two weeks by soaking up suezmax tonnage at firm rates, brokers reported.

The time charter market has seen a frenzy of activity since March, with oil firms often busy fixing vessels for floating storage due to insufficient onshore tanks.

The trading house reportedly took the 157,500-dwt Sonangol Cabinda (built 2013), the 158,000-dwt RS Tara (built 2016), the 158,000-dwt Sea Garnet (built 2017), and the 157,100-dwt Pluto Moon (built 2019).