Broker Affinity is forecasting a reduction in the useful life of VLCCs as new ballast water rules come into effect this September.
Shipping data manager Fotios Katsoulas said tanker owners face a choice of scrapping more elderly ships or paying up to $3m for treatment systems during a special survey (SS) to prevent the transfer of invasive species.
He added that nearly 20% of VLCCs will go through a survey within a year of the convention entering into force.
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