Oil-tanker vetting gets tighter amid environmental safety concerns
The Deepwater Horizon disaster has clear ramifications for the offshore drilling industry, but there is fall out for the shipping industry, too
Oil companies adopting a belt-and-braces approach to environmental safety will herald a stricter tanker-vetting policy. While the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was not a shipping disaster, the resulting public outcry and the pursuit of firms associated with Deepwater Horizon for financial damages has created a climate where oil companies are desperate to minimise environmental risks across the supply chain – and that includes tanker safety. Tanker owners have already highlighted evidence of a tougher inspection regime. "Oil company vetting criteria have become more strict," says Jens Martin Jensen, chief executive of Frontline, one of the world's largest supertanker operators. Jensen notes that w
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
