Denmark boasts two of the top four product tanker owners in the world and three of the top 10 by vessel numbers, according to shipbroking giant Clarksons.

On an operating basis the country is arguably stronger, with four of the major pool players in the business, helping tankers account for 20% of the overall Danish fleet.

“I have heard Denmark mentioned as the product tanker capital of the world,” Carsten Mortensen, the former chief executive of Norden and BW Group, says.