The lucrative two-year VLCC time charter secured by Euronav is “just the start” as charterers come under pressure to secure tonnage in a tight market, said a senior company official.

Brian Gallagher, the head of investor relations of the Belgian tanker giant, revealed on Thursday that a “blue-chip partner” had taken the 300,000-dwt Donoussa (built 2016) for two years at more than $48,000 a day.