A shift in scrubber economics is providing some relief to tanker owners mired in very weak markets at the start of 2021.

Before the pandemic struck last spring, owners of scrubber-fitted tonnage enjoyed an attractive discount for high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) compared with very low-sulphur fuel (VLSFO).

This averaged between $250 and $300 per tonne in key bunkering hubs during December 2019 and January 2020.