Two loaded NITC tankers have been stuck off the UAE for a month as demand for Iranian crude dropped ahead of US sanctions coming into force in November.

Sources and shipping data cited by Reuters said the 300,000-dwt VLCC Felicity (built 2000) had loaded condensate at Iran’s Assaluyeh port in early August and then headed for Jebel Ali.

The 164,000-dwt Salina (built 2009) also lifted at Assaluyeh and has been off Dubai since 17 August.