Shipping tycoon John Fredriksen is open to a three-way mega-merger involving Frontline, Euronav and International Seaways (INSW).

The Frontline owner revealed a 16.19% stake in US VLCC and product tanker operator International Seaways this week.

And Gunnar Winther Eliassen, an executive at Fredriksen’s private Seatankers Group, told TradeWinds the company’s fleet is “very interesting” to the Fredriksen group.

But he added: “This is a separate and standalone financial investment.