Euronav’s biggest shareholder is ready for talks to avoid what he sees as a disastrous fleet combination with John Fredriksen’s Frontline.

The Savery family has made sure this week that a full legal merger is now impossible through its blocking stake of 25% in the Belgian shipowner.

Alexander Saverys, chief executive of the family’s CMB shipping company, told TradeWinds that building this holding was “one of the scenarios that we kept at the back of our minds because it rules out Plan A, which is the merger”.