Niels Stolt-Nielsen has confirmed the plan is to float Stolt Tankers this year.

The chief executive of Oslo-listed chemical tanker and terminals group Stolt-Nielsen told a conference call: “We are looking at a 2023 IPO for Stolt Tankers.”

He explained that the group is now approaching the sort of debt levels it is comfortable with, through cash generation at Netherlands-based Stolt Tankers in strong markets.