Platts: Shell Top Hirer of Clean Tankers in 2010

“Oil major Shell dominated the spot clean charter rankings for 2010 — a year that saw the number of clean fixtures shrinking reflecting weak demand for product shipping, a report over the weekend by ship brokers Poten & Partners showed. With 324 spot fixtures across the clean tanker segments in 2010, Shell was the largest charterer of product tankers for the second consecutive year. Closely following the oil major was trading house Vitol with 308 fixtures in the second spot and Total with 267 deals. ST Shipping, trading house Glencore’s shipping arm, with 214 fixtures fell to fifth place last year after being fourth in 2009 with 243 deals. BP improved its showing last year bagging the fourth place with 230 fixtures from being fifth in 2009 with 217 deals.”