Management companies linked to George Gialozoglou have offloaded four ageing tankers in just a few weeks, according to information compiled from various broker reports.

The sales — demolition deals and secondhand transactions for further trading — can be interpreted as normal fleet-renewal moves by the Greek shipowner's companies.

Viewed from a different angle, however, they allow the Greek owner to cut ties with vessels that were drawn into the cross hairs of authorities in the US and Iran.