International Seaways used $20m from its second consecutive record quarter to buy back 5% of the company's shares while topping Wall Street consensus earnings expectations.

The Lois Zabrocky-led tanker owner also locked four VLCCs into lucrative charters ranging from seven to 36 months as it capitalised on the rates boom early in the quarter that is now a fading memory for International Seaways and other tanker owners reporting their earnings this week.