John Fredriksen's Frontline has followed its tanker peers in posting a bumper profit for the first quarter, as it took advantage of booming markets to fix seven ships on terms contracts.

The Oslo and New York-listed owner announced net earnings of $165m to 31 March, against $40.1m in the same period of 2019.

Its 70 ships brought in revenue of $412m, up from $238m the year before.