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A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
The Company
We are Frontline plc, an international shipping company incorporated in Cyprus under The Companies Law (Chapter 113) as a public limited liability company (Company No. 442213) on December 30, 2022. Our registered and principal executive offices are located at 8, John Kennedy Street, Iris House, Off. 740B, 3106 Limassol, Cyprus, and our telephone number at that address is + 35725-588767.
The Company's ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE and OSE under the symbol “FRO”.
We are engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of oil and product tankers. We operate through subsidiaries located in Cyprus, Bermuda, the Marshall Islands, Liberia, Norway, the United Kingdom, China and Singapore. We are also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of vessels.
On December 8, 2025, the Company held its annual general meeting of shareholders whereby shareholders approved, among other things, for a period of twelve months with effect from 12:00 p.m. on December 8, 2025, the proposals to exclude the shareholders’ Pre-Emption Right (defined below) with respect to any offer by the Company to the public against cash consideration, as may be decided by the board of directors from time to time, of: (i) a maximum of 377,377,111 ordinary shares of nominal value $1.00 each ranking pari passu with the existing ordinary shares of the Company at a subscription price which shall be determined by the board of directors not lower than $1.00 per share; and (ii) a maximum of 377,377,111 debentures or other securities convertible into ordinary shares of nominal value $1.00 each ranking pari passu with the existing ordinary shares of the Company or options or other securities carrying the right to subscribe for ordinary shares of the Company of nominal value $1.00 each ranking pari passu with the existing ordinary shares of the Company at a subscription price which shall be determined by the board of directors not lower than $1.00 per security.
The Commission maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. The address of the Commission’s internet site is www.sec.gov. The address of the Company's internet site is www.frontlineplc.cy. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.
Vessel Acquisitions, Disposals, Redeliveries and Newbuilding Contracts of the Company
The Company took delivery of two VLCC newbuildings in the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, there were no vessels in the Company’s newbuilding program and there were no commitments.
In January 2023, the Company sold a 2009-built VLCC and a 2009-built Suezmax tanker for gross proceeds of approximately $61.0 million and $39.5 million, respectively. The vessels were delivered to the new owners in January and February, respectively. After repayment of existing debt on the vessels, the transactions generated net cash proceeds of approximately $63.6 million, and the Company recorded a gain on sale of approximately $9.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2023.
In May 2023, the Company sold a 2010-built Suezmax tanker for gross proceeds of $44.5 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owner in June 2023. After repayment of existing debt on the vessel, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of $28.2 million, and the Company recorded a gain on sale of $9.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2023.
In January 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell its five oldest VLCCs, built in 2009 and 2010, for an aggregate net sales price of $290.0 million. The vessels were delivered to the new owner in March and April 2024. After repayment of existing debt on the vessels, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of $208.0 million, and the Company recorded a gain of $68.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
In January 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell one of its oldest Suezmax tankers, built in 2010, for a net sale price of $45.0 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owner in April 2024. After repayment of existing debt on the vessel, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of $32.0 million, and the Company recorded a gain of $11.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
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In March 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell one of its oldest Suezmax tankers, built in 2010, for a net sale of $46.9 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owner in May 2024. After repayment of existing debt on the vessel, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of $34.0 million, and the Company recorded a gain of $13.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
In June 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its oldest Suezmax tanker, built in 2010, for a net sale price of $48.5 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owner in October 2024. After repayment of existing debt on the vessel, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of $36.5 million, and the Company recorded a gain of approximately $17.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2024.
In August 2025, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its oldest Suezmax tanker, built in 2011, for a net sale price of $36.4 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owner in September 2025. After repayment of existing debt on the vessel, the transaction generated net cash proceeds of approximately $23.7 million, and the Company recorded a gain of $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2025.
The Acquisition
On October 9, 2023, Frontline entered into a Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement”) with CMB.TECH NV (formerly Euronav NV) (“CMB.TECH”). Pursuant to the Framework Agreement, the Company agreed to purchase 24 VLCCs with an average age of 5.3 years, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,350.0 million from CMB.TECH (the “Acquisition”).
All of the agreements relating to the Acquisition came into effect in November 2023. In December 2023, the Company took delivery of 11 of the vessels for consideration of $1,112.2 million. The Company had a commitment for $890.0 million for the remaining 13 vessels to be delivered excluding $347.8 million of prepaid consideration as of December 31, 2023. The Company took delivery of the 13 remaining vessels in the first quarter of 2024 and drew down $518.7 million under its $1,410.0 million senior secured term loan facility with a group of relationship banks and $60.0 million under its subordinated unsecured shareholder loan to partly finance the deliveries.
In connection with the Acquisition, Frontline and Famatown Finance Limited, a company related to Hemen, (“Famatown”) had agreed to sell all their shares in CMB.TECH (57,479,744 shares, representing in aggregate 26.12% of CMB.TECH’s issued shares) to Compagnie Maritime Belge NV (“CMB”) at a price of $18.43 per share (the “Share Sale”).
In November 2023, all conditions precedent to the Share Sale, including approval of the inter-conditionality of the Share Sale and the Acquisition by the CMB.TECH shareholders and receipt of anti-trust approvals, were fulfilled. The Share Sale closed in November 2023 at which time Frontline sold its 13,664,613 shares in CMB.TECH to CMB for $251.8 million. The proceeds from the Share Sale have been used to partly finance the Acquisition.
On October 9, 2023, Frontline and other Hemen Related Companies entered into a settlement agreement with CMB.TECH. As part of the overall agreements, all rights and claims that CMB.TECH had concerning the entering into, performance and termination of the combination agreement with CMB.TECH and the arbitration action filed by CMB.TECH in January 2023 following Frontline’s withdrawal from the combination agreement were terminated, against nil cash consideration
Strategic Fleet Renewal and Expansion
In December 2025, the Company entered into agreements to sell eight of our oldest first generation ECO VLCCs, built between 2015 and 2016 to an unrelated third party, for a total sales price of $831.5 million. The vessels were delivered to the new owner during the first quarter of 2026. After commissions and repayment of existing debt on the vessels, the transaction is expected to generate net cash proceeds of approximately $477.2 million and the Company expects to record a gain in the first quarter of 2026 of approximately $212.0 million.
In January 2026, the Company announced that it had entered into agreements to acquire nine latest generation scrubber-fitted ECO VLCC newbuildings from affiliates of Hemen, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,224.0 million. Of these nine vessels, six are currently under construction at the Hengli shipyard and three at the Dalian shipyard in China. The delivery schedule for the vessels is attractive, with two vessels expected in the second quarter of 2026, four vessels expected in the third quarter of 2026, two vessels expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the final vessel expected in the second quarter of 2027. The payment schedule for these acquisitions is weighted towards delivery, with the largest portion of the instalments due upon delivery of each vessel. The Company intends to finance this acquisition with cash and long-term debt financing. The acquisition remains subject to certain closing conditions, in line with industry standards.
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B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s fleet consisted of 80 vessels owned by the Company (41 VLCCs, 21 Suezmax tankers, 18 LR2/Aframax tankers), with an aggregate capacity of approximately 17.6 million DWT.
Our vessels operate worldwide and therefore management does not evaluate performance by geographical region as this information is not meaningful.
We own various vessel owning and operating subsidiaries. Our operations take place substantially outside of the United States. Our subsidiaries, therefore, own and operate vessels that may be affected by changes in foreign governments and other economic and political conditions. We are engaged in transporting crude oil and its related refined petroleum products and our vessels operate in the spot and time charter markets. Our VLCCs are specifically designed for the transportation of crude oil and, due to their size, are primarily used to transport crude oil from the Middle East Gulf to the Far East, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port. Our Suezmax tankers are similarly designed for worldwide trading, but the trade for these vessels is mainly in the Atlantic Basin, Middle East and Southeast Asia. Our LR2/ Aframax tankers are designed to be flexible, able to transport primarily refined products, but also fuel and crude oil from smaller ports limited by draft restrictions. The vessels will normally trade between the larger refinery centers around the world, being the Gulf of Mexico, Middle East, Rotterdam and Singapore.
We are committed to providing quality transportation services to all of our customers and to developing and maintaining long-term relationships with the major charterers of tankers. Increasing global environmental concerns have created a demand in the petroleum products/crude oil seaborne transportation industry for vessels that are able to conform to the stringent environmental standards currently being imposed throughout the world.
The tanker industry is highly cyclical, experiencing volatility in profitability, vessel values and freight rates. Freight rates are strongly influenced by the supply of tanker vessels and the demand for oil transportation. Refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results - Overview” for a discussion of the tanker market in 2025 and 2024.
The Company and the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) measure performance based on the Company’s overall return to shareholders based on consolidated profit or loss. The CODM does not review a measure of operating result at a lower level than the consolidated group. Consequently, the Company has only one reportable segment: tankers. The tankers segment includes crude oil tankers and product tankers.
Similar to structures commonly used by other shipping companies, our vessels are all owned by, or chartered to, separate subsidiaries or associated companies. Frontline (Management) Cyprus Ltd, Frontline Management AS, Frontline Corporate Services Ltd and Frontline Management (Bermuda) Limited, all wholly owned subsidiaries, which we refer to collectively as Frontline Management, support us in the implementation of our decisions. The Board of Directors is responsible for all strategic decisions of the Company. Frontline Management is responsible for the operational and commercial management of our ship owning subsidiaries, including chartering and insurance, in the execution of the board's strategy. Each of our vessels is registered under the Cyprus, Malta, Marshall Islands, Liberia or Hong Kong flag.
Strategy
Our principal focus is the transportation of crude oil and related refined petroleum cargoes for major oil companies and large oil trading companies. We seek to optimize our income and adjust our exposure through actively pursuing charter opportunities whether through spot charters, time charters, bareboat charters, sale and leasebacks, straight sales and purchases of vessels, newbuilding contracts and acquisitions.
We presently operate VLCCs, Suezmax and Aframax tankers in the crude oil tanker market and LR2 tankers in the refined product market. Our preferred strategy is to have some fixed charter income coverage for our fleet, predominantly through time charters, and trade the balance of the fleet on the spot market. We focus on minimizing time spent in ballast by “cross trading” our vessels, typically with voyages loading in the Middle East Gulf discharging in Northern Europe, followed by a trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and, finally, a voyage from either the Caribbean, U.S. Gulf or West Africa to the Far East/Indian Ocean. We believe that operating a certain number of vessels in the spot market, enables us to capitalize on a potentially stronger spot market as well as to serve our main customers on a regular non term basis. We believe that the size of our fleet is important in negotiating terms with our major clients and charterers. We also believe that our large fleet enhances our ability to obtain competitive terms from suppliers, ship repairers and builders and to produce cost savings in chartering and operations.
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Our business strategy is primarily based upon the following principles:
•operating a modern and energy-efficient fleet;
•emphasizing operational safety and quality maintenance for all of our vessels and crews;
•ensuring that the work environment on board and ashore always meet the highest standards complying with all safety and health regulations, labor conditions and respecting human rights;
•complying with all current and proposed environmental regulations;
•conducting our business in an honest and ethical manner;
•outsourcing technical management and crewing;
•continuing to achieve competitive operational costs;
•achieving high utilization of our vessels;
•achieving competitive financing arrangements;
•achieving a satisfactory mix of term charters, contracts of affreightment and spot voyages; and
•developing and maintaining relationships with major oil companies and industrial charterers.
We continue to have a strategy of outsourcing, which includes the outsourcing of management, crewing and accounting services to a number of third party and competing suppliers. The technical management of our vessels is provided by third party ship management companies. Pursuant to management agreements, each of the third party ship management companies provides ship maintenance, crewing, technical support, shipyard supervision and related services to us. A central part of our strategy is to benchmark operational performance and cost level amongst our ship managers. Currently, our vessels are crewed with Ukrainian, Romanian, Indian, Filipino, Latvian, and Georgian officers and crews, or combinations of these nationalities.
Seasonality
Historically, oil trade and, therefore, charter rates increased in the winter months and eased in the summer months as demand for oil and oil products in the Northern Hemisphere rose in colder weather and fell in warmer weather. The tanker industry, in general, has become less dependent on the seasonal transport of heating oil than a decade ago as new uses for oil and oil products have developed, spreading consumption more evenly over the year. This is most apparent from the higher seasonal demand during the summer months due to energy requirements for air conditioning and motor vehicles.
Environmental, Social & Governance
The Company publishes standalone ESG reports annually which can be found on its website at https://www.frontlineplc.cy/about-frontline-ltd/environmental-social-governance-esg/. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into this document.
Frontline’s business strategy is designed to create sustainable long-term value by balancing the interests of its stakeholders while managing material environmental, social and governance impacts, risks and opportunities across our operations and value chain.
A core pillar of this strategy is maintaining a modern, fuel-efficient fleet. Through disciplined fleet renewal and targeted growth in recent years, we have strengthened our environmental performance and operational efficiency. As of December 31, 2025, all vessels in the Company's fleet were ECO vessels and 46 were scrubber-fitted vessels. With an average fleet age of 7.5 years, Frontline operates one of the youngest and most energy-efficient fleets in the industry.
Our continued investment in modern tonnage, combined with the divestment of older vessels and the installation of energy-saving devices, demonstrates our commitment to improving emissions efficiency. In parallel, we leverage high-frequency vessel performance data to enable timely, data-driven decision-making. The integration of advanced technologies, including AI-enabled analytics and digital twin solutions, enhances fuel optimization, operational performance, and emissions management across the fleet.
Frontline is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment where human rights are upheld and fair labor practices are embedded throughout our operations. Our motto "Safety first – no compromises" means that the health, safety and well-being of our people is our highest priority, including the thousands of seafarers employed by the ship management companies with which we partner. We are fully committed to respecting internationally recognized human and labour rights across our business activities and value chain.
Strong governance underpins our business strategy. Frontline maintains a comprehensive Compliance Program led by the Head of Compliance to ensure that we conduct business ethically and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The
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program includes robust policies and procedures tailored to industry-specific risks, annual risk assessments conducted with external advisors, regular training, third-party audits, internal controls, remediation processes and investigations, as well as quarterly reporting to the Audit and Risk Committee. This structured approach enables us to proactively identify and address emerging risks arising from regulatory developments and evolving stakeholder expectations, including those of investors, banks and customers.
Customers
No customers in the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023 individually accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated operating revenues.
Competition
The market for international seaborne crude and oil products transportation services is highly fragmented and competitive. Seaborne oil transportation services are generally provided by two main types of operators: major oil company captive fleets (both private and state-owned) and independent ship-owner fleets. In addition, several owners and operators pool their vessels together on an ongoing basis, and such pools are available to customers to the same extent as independently owned-and-operated fleets. Many major oil companies and other oil trading companies, the primary charterers of the vessels owned or controlled by us, also operate their own vessels, and use such vessels not only to transport their own crude oil but also to transport crude oil for third party charterers in direct competition with independent owners and operators in the tanker charter market. Competition for charters is intense and is based upon price, location, size, age, condition and acceptability of the vessel and its manager. Competition is also affected by the availability of other size vessels to compete in the trades in which the Company engages. Charters are, to a large extent, brokered through international independent brokerage houses that specialize in finding the optimal ship for any cargo based on the aforementioned criteria. Brokers may be appointed by the cargo shipper or the ship owner.
Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry
Government regulation and laws significantly affect the ownership and operation of our fleet. We are subject to international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and regulations in force in the countries in which our vessels may operate or are registered relating to safety and health and environmental protection including the storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, and the remediation of contamination and liability for damage to natural resources. Compliance with such laws, regulations and other requirements entails significant expense, including vessel modifications and implementation of certain operating procedures.
A variety of government and private entities subject our vessels to both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. These entities include the local port authorities (applicable national authorities such as the USCG harbor master or equivalent), classification societies, flag state administrations (countries of registry) and charterers, particularly terminal operators. Certain of these entities require us to obtain permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations for the operation of our vessels. Failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or result in the temporary suspension of the operation of one or more of our vessels.
Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for vessels that conform to stricter environmental standards. We are required to maintain operating standards for all of our vessels that emphasize operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of our officers and crews and compliance with United States and international regulations. We believe that the operation of our vessels is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that our vessels have all material permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations. However, because such laws and regulations frequently change and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements or the impact of these requirements on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. In addition, a future serious marine incident that causes significant adverse environmental impact could result in additional legislation or regulation that could negatively affect our profitability.
The International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) which is the United Nations' agency for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by vessels, has adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, collectively referred to as MARPOL 73/78 and herein as “MARPOL,” the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974 (“SOLAS”) Convention, and the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966. MARPOL establishes environmental standards relating to oil leakage or spilling, garbage management, sewage, air emissions, handling and disposal of noxious liquids and the handling of harmful substances in packaged forms. MARPOL is
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applicable to drybulk, tanker and LNG carriers, among other vessels, and is broken into six Annexes, each of which regulates a different source of pollution. Annex I relates to oil leakage or spilling; Annexes II and III relate to harmful substances carried in bulk in liquid or in packaged form, respectively; Annexes IV and V relate to sewage and garbage management, respectively; and Annex VI, lastly, relates to air emissions. Annex VI was separately adopted by the IMO in September of 1997; new emissions standards, titled IMO-2020, took effect on January 1, 2020.
In 2013, the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (“MEPC”) adopted a resolution amending MARPOL Annex I Condition Assessment Scheme (“CAS”). These amendments became effective on October 1, 2014, and require compliance with the 2011 International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (“ESP Code”) which provides for enhanced inspection programs.
Air Emissions
In September of 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to MARPOL to address air pollution from vessels. Effective May 2005, Annex VI sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from all commercial vessel exhausts and prohibits “deliberate emissions” of ozone depleting substances (such as halons and chlorofluorocarbons), emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks, and the shipboard incineration of specific substances. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions, as explained below. Emissions of “volatile organic compounds” from certain vessels, and the shipboard incineration (from incinerators installed after January 1, 2000) of certain substances (such as polychlorinated biphenyls) are also prohibited. We believe that all our vessels are currently compliant in all material respects with these regulations.
The MEPC adopted amendments to Annex VI regarding emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and ozone depleting substances, which entered into force on July 1, 2010. The amended Annex VI seeks to further reduce air pollution by, among other things, implementing a progressive reduction of the amount of sulfur contained in any fuel oil used on board ships. On October 27, 2016, MEPC 70 agreed to implement a global 0.5% m/m sulfur oxide emissions limit (reduced from 3.50%) starting from January 1, 2020. This limitation can be met by using low-sulfur compliant fuel oil, alternative fuels, or certain exhaust gas cleaning systems. Ships are now required to obtain bunker delivery notes and International Air Pollution Prevention Certificates from their flag states that specify sulfur content. Additionally, at MEPC 73, amendments to Annex VI to prohibit the carriage of bunkers above 0.5% sulfur on ships, with the exception of vessels fitted with scrubbers which can carry fuel of higher sulfur content, were adopted and took effect March 1, 2020. These regulations subject ocean-going vessels to stringent emissions controls.
Sulfur content standards are even stricter within certain “Emission Control Areas,” or ECAs. As of January 1, 2015, ships operating within an ECA were not permitted to use fuel with sulfur content in excess of 0.1% m/m. Currently, the IMO has designated five ECAs, including specified portions of the Baltic Sea area, Mediterranean Sea area, North Sea area, North American area and United States Caribbean area. Ocean-going vessels in these areas will be subject to stringent emission controls and may cause us to incur additional costs. Other areas in China are subject to local regulations that impose stricter emission controls. In July 2023, MEPC 80 announced three new ECA proposals, including the Canadian Arctic waters and the Norwegian Sea, which should take effect in March 2027. MEPC 83 also approved the Northeast Atlantic Ocean as an ECA and is expected to take effect in 2028. If other ECAs are approved by the IMO, or other new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels are adopted by the EPA, or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.
The amended Annex VI also established new tiers of stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. Tier III NOx standards were designed for the control of NOx produced by vessels and apply to ships that operate in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea ECAs with marine diesel engines installed and constructed on or after January 1, 2016. At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, the MEPC approved the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for nitrogen oxide for ships built on or after January 1, 2021. The Canadian-Arctic ECA for NOx will also be effective starting from March 1, 2026 for ships built on or after January 1, 2025. For the Norwegian Sea ECA, the NOx Tier III engine certification requirement will apply to ships (i) with building contracts placed on or after March 1, 2026, (ii) in the absence of a building contract, constructed on or after September 1, 2026, or (iii) delivered on or after March 1, 2030. For the North-East Atlantic ECA, the requirement is expected to apply to ships (i) contracted on or after January 1, 2027, (ii) in the absence of a building contract, constructed on or after July 1, 2027, or (iii) delivered on or after January 1, 2031. The EPA promulgated equivalent (and in some senses stricter) emissions standards in 2010. Tier III requirements could apply to additional areas designated for Tier III NOx in the future. In April 2025, MEPC 83 also adopted amendments (expected to enter into force late 2026 and early 2027) to the NOx Technical Code 2008, which allows ships to optimize fuel consumption based on their
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operational profile, thus improving energy efficiency, while ensuring compliance with NOx emission requirements. As a result of these designations or similar future designations, we may be required to incur additional operating or other costs.
At MEPC 70, Regulation 22A of MARPOL Annex VI became effective as of March 1, 2018 and requires ships above 5,000 gross tonnage to collect and report annual data on fuel oil consumption to an IMO database, with the first year of data collection having commenced on January 1, 2019. The IMO used such data as part of its initial roadmap (through 2023) for developing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as discussed further below. MEPC 83 approved draft amendments to make the IMO’s data collection system more accessible to the public through an anonymized database.
As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL mandated certain measures relating to energy efficiency for ships. All ships are now required to develop and implement Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans (“SEEMP”) and new ships must be designed in compliance with minimum energy efficiency levels per capacity mile as defined by the Energy Efficiency Design Index (“EEDI”). MEPC 75 adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI which brought forward the effective date of the EEDI’s “phase 3” requirements from January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2022 for several ship types, including gas carriers, general cargo ships, LNG carriers and oil tankers.
Additionally, in 2022, MEPC 75 amended Annex VI to impose new regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. These amendments introduce requirements to assess and measure the energy efficiency of all ships and set the required attainment values, with the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping. The requirements include (1) a technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity based on a new EEXI, and (2) operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (“CII”). The attained EEXI is required to be calculated for ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, in accordance with different values set for ship types and categories. With respect to the CII, the draft amendments would require ships of 5,000 gross tonnage to document and verify their actual annual operational CII achieved against a determined required annual operational CII. All ships above 400 gross tonnage must also have an approved SEEMP on board. For ships above 5,000 gross tonnage, the SEEMP needs to include certain mandatory content. That same year, MEPC 75 amended MARPOL Annex I to prohibit the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters on and after July 1, 2024. These draft amendments entered into force on November 1, 2022, with the requirements for EEXI and CII certification that came into effect on January 1, 2023. Any vessels that will not meet this new EEXI requirement will need to adopt energy-saving/emission reducing technology, through retrofits, to reach compliant levels. This creates a vast array of implications for the tanker industry going forward. Recycling of older ships could accelerate as the investments to comply with regulations are not feasible. One of the most efficient ways of reducing emissions is reducing power, this would in turn limit vessel speed and with that supply.
In late 2022, MEPC 79 adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix IX to include the attained and required CII values, the CII rating and attained EEXI for existing ships in the required information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database. MEPC 79 also revised the EEDI calculation guidelines to include a CO2 conversion factor for ethane, a reference to the updated ITCC guidelines, and a clarification that in case of a ship with multiple load line certificates, the maximum certified summer draft should be used when determining the deadweight. These amendments entered into force on May 1, 2024. In July 2023, MEPC 80 approved the plan for reviewing CII regulations and guidelines, and in April 2025, MEPC 83 adopted amendments to 2021 Guidelines on operational carbon intensity reduction factors, which outline methods for determining CII reduction factors from 2023 and now includes newly defined factors from 2027 to 2030. MEPC 83 also approved a work plan on the development of a regulatory framework for the use of onboard carbon capture and storage systems, which will capture carbon produced by a ship before it is emitted into the air.
While we have incurred increased costs to comply with these revised standards such costs have not been material. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could require the installation of expensive emission control systems and could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Safety Management System Requirements
The SOLAS Convention was amended to address the safe manning of vessels and emergency training drills. The Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (“LLMC”) sets limitations of liability for a loss of life or personal injury claim or a property claim against ship owners. We believe that our vessels are in substantial compliance with SOLAS and LLMC standards.
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Under Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention or the ISM Code, our operations are also subject to environmental standards and requirements. The ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for responding to emergencies. We rely upon the safety management system that we and our technical managers have developed for compliance with the ISM Code. The failure of a vessel owner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject such party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.
The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate for each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel’s management with the ISM Code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel can obtain a safety management certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of compliance, issued by each flag state, under the ISM Code. Our managers have obtained applicable documents of compliance for their offices and safety management certificates for all of our vessels for which the certificates are required by the IMO. The document of compliance and safety management certificate are renewed as required.
Regulation II-1/3-10 of the SOLAS Convention governs ship construction and stipulates that ships over 150 meters in length must have adequate strength, integrity and stability to minimize risk of loss or pollution. Goal-based standards amendments in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 entered into force in 2012, with July 1, 2016 set for application to new oil tankers and bulk carriers. The SOLAS Convention regulation II-1/3-10 on goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers, which entered into force on January 1, 2012, requires that all oil tankers and bulk carriers of 150 meters in length and above, for which the building contract is placed on or after July 1, 2016, satisfy applicable structural requirements conforming to the functional requirements of the International Goal-based Ship Construction Standards for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers.
Amendments to the SOLAS Convention Chapter VII apply to vessels transporting dangerous goods and require those vessels be in compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (“IMDG Code”). Effective January 1, 2018, the IMDG Code includes (1) updates to the provisions for radioactive material, reflecting the latest provisions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, (2) marking, packing and classification requirements for dangerous goods, and (3) mandatory training requirements. Amendments which took effect on January 1, 2020 also reflect the latest material from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, including (1) provisions regarding IMO type 9 tank, (2) abbreviations for segregation groups, and (3) special provisions for carriage of lithium batteries and of vehicles powered by flammable liquid or gas. Additional amendments, which came into force on June 1, 2022, include (1) addition of a definition of dosage rate, (2) additions to the list of high consequence dangerous goods, (3) new provisions for medical/clinical waste, (4) addition of various ISO standards for gas cylinders, (5) a new handling code, and (6) changes to stowage and segregation provisions. The newest edition of the IMDG Code took effect on January 1, 2024, although the changes are largely incremental.
The IMO has also adopted the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (“STCW”). As of February 2017, all seafarers are required to meet the STCW standards and be in possession of a valid STCW certificate. Flag states that have ratified SOLAS and STCW generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS and STCW requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.
The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and MEPC, respectively, each adopted relevant parts of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Water (the “Polar Code”). The Polar Code, which entered into force on January 1, 2017, covers design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue as well as environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the waters surrounding the two poles. It also includes mandatory measures regarding safety and pollution prevention as well as recommendatory provisions. The Polar Code applies to ships constructed after January 1, 2017, and after January 1, 2018, ships constructed before January 1, 2017 are required to meet the relevant requirements by the earlier of their first intermediate or renewal survey.
Furthermore, cybersecurity guidance and regulations have been developed in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. For new ships and offshore installations contracted for construction on or after January 1, 2024, the International Association of Classification Societies (“IACS”) now requires vessel owners, yard and suppliers to build cybersecurity barriers into their systems and vessels, requiring compliance across the full spectrum of critical on-board control and navigation systems. On July 16, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard’s final rule, Cybersecurity in the Martine Transportation System, went into effect. Under this rule, all regulated entities are required to develop Cybersecurity and Cyber Incident Response Plans, designate a Cybersecurity Officer to implement plans, and to report certain cyber incidents to the National Response Center. This might cause companies
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to create additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures. The impact of these regulations is hard to predict at this time.
In June 2022, SOLAS also set out new amendments that will take effect January 1, 2024, which include new requirements for: (1) the design for safe mooring operations, (2) the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, (3) watertight integrity, (4) watertight doors on cargo ships, (5) fault-isolation of fire detection systems, (6) life-saving appliances, and (7) safety of ships using LNG as fuel. The only mandatory requirement is in connection with the safe design of mooring operations. The requirements will apply only to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after January 1, 2024. However, the maintenance and inspection requirements will be given retrospective application for all ships, and we must align our guidelines.
Pollution Control and Liability Requirements
The IMO has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for pollution in international waters and the territorial waters of the signatories to such conventions. For example, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the “BWM Convention”) in 2004. The BWM Convention entered into force on September 8, 2017. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of new or invasive aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments. The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits, and require all ships to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate.
The MEPC maintains guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8). Ships over 400 gross tons generally must comply with a “D-1 standard,” requiring the exchange of ballast water only in open seas and away from coastal waters. The “D-2 standard” specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, and compliance dates vary depending on the IOPP renewal dates. Those standards have been in force since 2019, and for most ships, compliance with the D-2 standard involved installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ballast water management systems, which include systems that make use of chemical, biocides, organisms or biological mechanisms, or which alter the chemical or physical characteristics of the ballast water, must be approved in accordance with IMO Guidelines (Regulation D-3). Since September 2024, all ships have been required to meet the D-2 standard. Additionally, in November 2020, MEPC 75 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention which would require a commissioning test of the ballast water management system for the initial survey or when performing an additional survey for retrofits. This analysis will not apply to ships that already have an installed BWM system certified under the BWM Convention. These amendments have entered into force on June 1, 2022. In December 2022, MEPC 79 agreed that it should be permitted to use ballast tanks for temporary storage of treated sewage and grey water. MEPC 79 also established that ships are expected to return to D-2 compliance after experiencing challenging uptake water and bypassing a BWM system should only be used as a last resort.
In addition to the BWM Convention, many countries already regulate the discharge of ballast water carried by vessels from country to country to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful species via such discharges. The U.S., for example, requires vessels entering its waters from another country to conduct mid-ocean ballast exchange, or undertake some alternate measure, and to comply with certain reporting requirements.
The IMO adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as amended by different Protocols in 1976, 1984, and 1992, and amended in 2000 (the “CLC”). Under the CLC and depending on whether the country in which the damage results is a party to the 1992 Protocol to the CLC, a vessel’s registered owner may be strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain exceptions. The 1992 Protocol changed certain limits on liability expressed using the International Monetary Fund currency unit, the Special Drawing Rights. The limits on liability have since been amended so that the compensation limits on liability were raised. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the shipowner’s actual fault and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the shipowner’s intentional or reckless act or omission where the shipowner knew pollution damage would probably result. The CLC requires ships over 2,000 tons covered by it to maintain insurance covering the liability of the owner in a sum equivalent to an owner’s liability for a single incident. We have protection and indemnity insurance for environmental incidents. P&I Clubs in the International Group issue the required Bunkers Convention “Blue Cards” to enable signatory states to issue certificates. All of our vessels are in possession of a CLC State issued certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.
The IMO also adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (the “Bunker Convention”) to impose strict liability on ship owners (including the registered owner, bareboat charterer, manager or operator)
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for pollution damage in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states caused by discharges of bunker fuel. The Bunker Convention requires registered owners of ships over 1,000 gross tons to maintain insurance for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the LLMC). With respect to non-ratifying states, liability for spills or releases of oil carried as fuel in ship’s bunkers typically is determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the events or damages occur.
Ships are required to maintain a certificate attesting that they maintain adequate insurance to cover an incident. In jurisdictions, such as the United States where the CLC or the Bunker Convention has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or on a strict-liability basis.
Anti‑Fouling Requirements
In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti‑fouling Systems on Ships (the “Anti‑fouling Convention”). The Anti‑fouling Convention, which entered into force on September 17, 2008, prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings to prevent the attachment of mollusks and other sea life to the hulls of vessels. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages will also be required to undergo an initial survey before the vessel is put into service or before an International Anti‑fouling System Certificate (the “IAFS Certificate”) is issued for the first time; and subsequent surveys when the anti‑fouling systems are altered or replaced. Vessels of 24 meters in length or more but less than 400 gross tonnage engaged in international voyages will have to carry a Declaration on Anti-fouling Systems signed by the owner or authorized agent.
In November 2020, MEPC 75 approved draft amendments to the Anti-fouling Convention to prohibit anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne, which would apply to ships from January 1, 2023, or, for ships already bearing such an anti-fouling system, at the next scheduled renewal of the system after that date, but no later than 60 months following the last application to the ship of such a system. In addition, the IAFS Certificate has been updated to address compliance options for anti-fouling systems to address cybutryne. Ships which are affected by this ban on cybutryne must receive an updated IAFS Certificate no later than two years after the entry into force of these amendments. Ships which are not affected must receive an updated IAFS Certificate at the next Anti-fouling application to the vessel. These amendments were formally adopted at MEPC 76 in June 2021 and entered into force on January 1, 2023.
We have obtained Anti‑fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti‑fouling Convention.
Compliance Enforcement
Noncompliance with the ISM Code or other IMO regulations may subject the ship owner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. The USCG and European Union authorities prohibit vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code by applicable deadlines from trading in U.S. and European Union ports, respectively. As of the date of this report, each of our vessels is ISM Code certified. However, there can be no assurance that such certificates will be maintained in the future. The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulations might have on our operations.
United States Regulations
The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (the “OPA”), established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills. OPA affects all “owners and operators” whose vessels trade or operate within the U.S., its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in U.S. waters, which includes the U.S.’s territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the U.S. The U.S. has also enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) which applies to the discharge of hazardous substances other than oil, except in limited circumstances, whether on land or at sea. OPA and CERCLA both define “owner and operator” in the case of a vessel as any person owning, operating or chartering by demise, the vessel. Both OPA and CERCLA impact our operations.
Under OPA, vessel owners and operators are “responsible parties” and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs
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and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels, including bunkers (fuel). OPA defines these other damages broadly to include:
iinjury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;
iiinjury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;
iiiloss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;
ivnet loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property, or natural resources;
vlost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property or natural resources; and
vinet cost of increased or additional public services necessitated by removal activities following a discharge of oil, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and loss of subsistence use of natural resources.
OPA contains statutory caps on liability and damages; such caps do not apply to direct cleanup costs. On December 23, 2022, the USCG issued a final rule to adjust the limitation of liability under the OPA. Effective March 23, 2023, the new adjusted limits of OPA liability for a tank vessel, other than a single-hull tank vessel, over 3,000 gross tons liability to the greater of $2,500 per gross ton or $21,521,300 (the previous limit was $2,300 per gross ton or $19,943,400). These limits of liability do not apply if an incident was proximately caused by the violation of an applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulation by a responsible party (or its agent, employee or a person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship), or a responsible party's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The limitation on liability similarly does not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to (i) report the incident as required by law where the responsible party knows or has reason to know of the incident; (ii) reasonably cooperate and assist as requested in connection with oil removal activities; or (iii) without sufficient cause, comply with an order issued under the Federal Water Pollution Act (Section 311 (c), (e)) or the Intervention on the High Seas Act.
CERCLA contains a similar liability regime whereby owners and operators of vessels are liable for cleanup, removal and remedial costs, as well as damages for injury to, or destruction or loss of, natural resources, including the reasonable costs associated with assessing the same, and health assessments or health effects studies. There is no liability if the discharge of a hazardous substance results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war. Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $5.0 million for vessels carrying a hazardous substance as cargo and the greater of $300 per gross ton or $500,000 for any other vessel. These limits do not apply (rendering the responsible person liable for the total cost of response and damages) if the release or threat of release of a hazardous substance resulted from willful misconduct or negligence, or the primary cause of the release was a violation of applicable safety, construction or operating standards or regulations. The limitation on liability also does not apply if the responsible person fails or refuses to provide all reasonable cooperation and assistance as requested in connection with response activities where the vessel is subject to OPA.
OPA and CERCLA each preserve the right to recover damages under existing law, including maritime tort law. OPA and CERCLA both require owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the USCG evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the maximum amount of liability to which the particular responsible person may be subject. Vessel owners and operators may satisfy their financial responsibility obligations by providing a proof of insurance, a surety bond, qualification as a self-insurer or a guarantee. We comply and plan to comply going forward with the USCG’s financial responsibility regulations by providing applicable certificates of financial responsibility.
OPA specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, provided they accept, at a minimum, the levels of liability established under OPA and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for oil spills. Many U.S. states that border a navigable waterway have enacted environmental pollution laws that impose strict liability on a person for removal costs and damages resulting from a discharge of oil or a release of a hazardous substance. These laws may be more stringent than U.S. federal law. Moreover, some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for discharge of pollutants within their waters, although in some cases, states which have enacted this type of legislation have not yet issued implementing regulations defining tanker owners’ responsibilities under these laws. The Company intends to comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where the Company’s vessels call.
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We currently maintain pollution liability coverage insurance in the amount of $1.0 billion per incident for each of our vessels. If the damages from a catastrophic spill were to exceed our insurance coverage, it could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operation.
Other United States Environmental Initiatives
The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970 (including its amendments of 1977 and 1990) (“CAA”) requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas. The CAA also requires states to draft State Implementation Plans (“SIPs”) designed to attain national health-based air quality standards in each state. Although state-specific, SIPs may include regulations concerning emissions resulting from vessel loading and unloading operations by requiring the installation of vapor control equipment. Our vessels operating in such regulated port areas with restricted cargoes are equipped with vapor recovery systems that satisfy these existing requirements.
The U.S. Clean Water Act (“CWA”) prohibits the discharge of oil, hazardous substances and ballast water in U.S. navigable waters unless authorized by a duly issued permit or exemption, and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for any unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA and CERCLA.
The EPA and the USCG have also enacted rules relating to ballast water discharge, compliance with which requires the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial costs, and/or otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters. The EPA will regulate these ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of certain vessels within United States waters pursuant to the VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018 and replaces the 2013 VGP program and current Coast Guard ballast water management regulations adopted under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act. VIDA establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges under the CWA, requires the EPA to develop performance standards for those discharges within two years of enactment, and requires the U.S. Coast Guard to develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations within two years of EPA’s promulgation of standards. In October 2024, the EPA finalized its rule on Vessel Incidental Discharge Standards of Performance, which means that the USCG must now develop corresponding regulations regarding ballast water within two years of that date.
Under VIDA, all provisions of the 2013 VGP and USCG regulations regarding ballast water treatment remain in force and effect until the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard regulations are finalized. Non-military, non-recreational vessels greater than 79 feet in length must continue to comply with the requirements of the VGP, including submission of a Notice of Intent (“NOI”) or retention of a PARI form and submission of annual reports. We have submitted NOIs for our vessels where required. Compliance with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard and state regulations could require the installation of ballast water treatment equipment on our vessels or the implementation of other port facility disposal procedures at potentially substantial cost, or may otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters.
Greenhouse Gas Regulation
Currently, the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which entered into force in 2005 and pursuant to which adopting countries have been required to implement national programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with targets extended through 2020. International negotiations are continuing with respect to a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, and restrictions on shipping emissions may be included in any new treaty. In December 2009, more than 27 nations, including the U.S. and China, signed the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a non-binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris resulted in the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on November 4, 2016 and does not directly limit greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The U.S.is not a party to the Paris Agreement.
At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, a draft outline of the structure of the initial strategy for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships was approved. In accordance with this roadmap, in April 2018, nations at the MEPC 72 adopted an initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The initial strategy identifies “levels of ambition” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and notes that technological innovation, alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieve the ambitions. At MEPC 77, the Member States agreed to initiate
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the revision of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, recognizing the need to strengthen the “levels of ambition.” In July 2023, MEPC 80 adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (the “2023 IMO Strategy”), which builds upon the initial strategy’s levels of ambition. The revised levels of ambition include (1) further decreasing the carbon intensity from ships through improvement of energy efficiency; (2) reducing carbon intensity of international shipping; (3) increasing adoption of zero or near-zero emissions technologies, fuels, and energy sources; and (4) achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. Furthermore, the following indicative checkpoints were adopted in order to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping: (1) reduce the total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008 levels; and (2) reduce the total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008 levels. As part of the 2023 IMO Strategy, MEPC also created the IMO Net-zero Framework, which will combine mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across the industry. The IMO Net-zero Framework was approved at MEPC 83 (Spring 2025) for potential adoption in Spring 2026 and will eventually be included in Annex VI. The draft legal text was then shared with Member States for review, aiming for formal adoption at a special MEPC session in October 2025. Discussions have been adjourned until 2026. Once adopted, under the tacit acceptance procedure, the regulations are expected to enter into force 16 months later at which point governments will be responsible for enforcing them. Under these draft regulations, ships will be required to reduce their annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity (“GFI”) calculated using the well-to-wake approach and ships emitting above GFI thresholds will have to acquire remedial units to balance its deficit emissions, while those using zero or near-zero greenhouse gas technologies will be eligible for financial rewards.
The EU made a unilateral commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from its member states from 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. The EU also committed to reduce its emissions by 20% under the Kyoto Protocol’s second period from 2013 to 2020. As of January 2018, large ships over 5,000 gross tonnage calling at EU ports are required to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information. Under the European Climate Law, the EU committed to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 through its “Fit-for-55” legislation package. As part of this initiative, the European Union’s carbon market, EU ETS, has been extended to cover CO2 emissions from all large ships entering EU ports starting January 2024.
In the United States, the EPA issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and safety, adopted regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from certain mobile sources, and proposed regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources. However, in March 2017, the Trump Administration issued an executive order to review and possibly eliminate the EPA’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and on August 13, 2020, the EPA released rules rolling back standards to control methane and volatile organic compound emissions from new oil and gas facilities. In early 2021, the Biden Administration directed the EPA to publish a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding certain of these rules, which was finalized in December 2023. However, the current administration is delaying these requirements limiting methane emissions and is considering repealing the measure altogether. Therefore, it is unclear how such environmental regulations could affect our operations.
Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the EU, the U.S. or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level to succeed the Kyoto Protocol or Paris Agreement, that restricts emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures which we cannot predict with certainty at this time. Even in the absence of climate control legislation, our business may be indirectly affected to the extent that climate change may result in sea level changes or certain weather events.
For more information on the Company's approach to ESG issues, see our latest ESG Report on our website at www.frontlineplc.cy under “Environmental, Social and Governance.” None of the information or contents of our ESG Reports are incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
European Union Regulations
In October 2009, the European Union amended a directive to impose criminal sanctions for illicit ship-source discharges of polluting substances, including minor discharges, if committed with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence and the discharges individually or in the aggregate result in deterioration of the quality of water. Aiding and abetting the discharge of a polluting substance may also lead to criminal penalties. The directive applies to all types of vessels, irrespective of their flag, but certain exceptions apply to warships or where human safety or that of the ship is in danger. Criminal liability for pollution may result in substantial penalties or fines and increased civil liability claims. Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 (amending EU Directive 2009/16/EC) governs the monitoring, reporting and
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verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and, subject to some exclusions, requires companies with ships over 5,000 gross tonnage to monitor and report carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The European Union has adopted several regulations and directives requiring, among other things, more frequent inspections of high-risk ships, as determined by type, age, and flag as well as the number of times the ship has been detained. The European Union also adopted and extended a ban on substandard ships and enacted a minimum ban period and a definitive ban for repeated offenses. The regulation also provided the European Union with greater authority and control over classification societies, by imposing more requirements on classification societies and providing for fines or penalty payments for organizations that failed to comply. Furthermore, the EU has implemented regulations requiring vessels to use reduced sulfur content fuel for their main and auxiliary engines. The EU Directive 2005/33/EC (amending Directive 1999/32/EC) introduced requirements parallel to those in Annex VI relating to the sulfur content of marine fuels. In addition, the EU imposed a 0.1% maximum sulfur requirement for fuel used by ships at berth in the Baltic, the North Sea and the English Channel (the so called “SOx-Emission Control Area”). As of January 2020, EU member states must also ensure that ships in all EU waters, except the SOx-Emission Control Area, use fuels with a 0.5% maximum sulfur content.
On September 15, 2020, the European Parliament voted to include greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector in the European Union’s carbon market, the EU Emissions Trading System (“EU ETS”) as part of its “Fit-for-55” legislation to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. On December 18, 2022, the Environmental Council and European Parliament agreed on a gradual introduction of obligations for shipping companies to surrender allowances equivalent to a portion of their carbon emissions: 40% for verified emissions from 2024, 70% for 2025 and 100% for 2026. As of January 1, 2024, maritime shipping was phased into the EU ETS, which applies to cargo and passenger ships of 5,000 gross tonnage or above. All 100% of carbon emissions on voyages and port calls within the EU or European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and 50% of carbon emissions on voyages into or out of the EU/EEA, are subject to the EU ETS. As a result, shipowners will need to purchase and surrender a number of allowances that represent their recorded carbon emission exposure for each fiscal year. The person or organization responsible for the compliance with the EU ETS is the shipping company, defined as the shipowner or any other organization or person, such as the manager or the bareboat charterer, that has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the shipowner. Furthermore, starting January 1, 2026, the EU ETS regulations will expand to include emissions of two additional greenhouse gases: nitrous oxide and methane. In the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company incurred costs of approximately $20.0 million (2024: approximately $9.0 million) to comply with the EU ETS requirements. Compliance with the EU ETS will result in additional compliance and administration costs as the additional phases take effect.
From January 1, 2025, the EU adopted the FuelEU Maritime regulation, a proposal included in the "Fit-for-55" legislation. FuelEU Maritime sets requirements on the annual average greenhouse gas intensity of energy used by ships trading within the EU/EEA. This intensity is measured as greenhouse gas emissions per energy unit (gCO2e/MJ) and, in turn, greenhouse gas emissions are calculated in a well-to-wake perspective. The calculation takes into account emissions related to the extraction, cultivation, production and transportation of fuel, in addition to emissions from energy used on board the ship. The baseline for the calculation is the average well-to-wake greenhouse gas intensity of the fleet in 2020: 91.16 gCO2e/MJ. This started at a 2% reduction in 2025, increasing to 6% in 2030, and accelerating from 2035 to reach an 80% reduction by 2050. In the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company incurred costs of approximately $2.0 million to comply with the FuelEU Maritime requirements. Additional EU regulations which are part of the EU’s Fit-for-55 could also affect our financial position in terms of compliance and administration costs when they take effect.
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the UN that has adopted the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (“MLC 2006”). A Maritime Labor Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance is required to ensure compliance with the MLC 2006 for all ships that are 500 gross tonnage or over and are either engaged in international voyages or flying the flag of a Member and operating from a port, or between ports, in another country. We believe that all our vessels are in substantial compliance with and are certified to meet MLC 2006.
Vessel Security Regulations
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security such as the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (“MTSA”). To implement certain portions of the MTSA, the USCG issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and at certain ports and facilities, some of which are regulated by the EPA.
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Similarly, Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention imposes detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities and mandates compliance with the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code is designed to enhance the security of ports and ships against terrorism. To trade internationally, a vessel must attain an International Ship Security Certificate (“ISSC”) from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel’s flag state. Ships operating without a valid certificate may be detained, expelled from, or refused entry at port until they obtain an ISSC.
The USCG regulations, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board a valid ISSC that attests to the vessel’s compliance with the SOLAS Convention security requirements and the ISPS Code. Future security measures could have a significant financial impact on us. We intend to comply with the various security measures addressed by MTSA, the SOLAS Convention and the ISPS Code.
The cost of vessel security measures has also been affected by the escalation in the frequency of acts of piracy against ships, notably off the coast of Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea area. Substantial loss of revenue and other costs may be incurred as a result of detention of a vessel or additional security measures, and the risk of uninsured losses could significantly affect our business. Costs are incurred in taking additional security measures in accordance with Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy, notably those contained in the BMP5 industry standard.
Inspection by Classification Societies
The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and SOLAS. Most insurance underwriters make it a condition for insurance coverage and lending that a vessel be certified “in class” by a classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies, the IACS. The IACS has adopted harmonized Common Structural Rules (the “Rules”), which apply to oil tankers and bulk carriers contracted for construction on or after July 1, 2015. The Rules attempt to create a level of consistency between IACS Societies. All of our vessels are certified as being “in class” by the applicable Classification Societies (e.g., American Bureau of Shipping., Lloyd's Register of Shipping or DNV).
A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys, dry dockings and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Every vessel is required to carry out a bottom survey every 30 to 36 months for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel. At the end of the classification cycle of 30 to 60 months the vessel is required to be dry docked. If any vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, dry docking or special survey, the vessel will be unable to carry cargo between ports and will be unemployable and uninsurable which could cause us to be in violation of certain covenants in our loan agreements. Any such inability to carry cargo or be employed, or any such violation of covenants, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Risk of Loss and Liability Insurance
The operation of any ocean-going vessel carries an inherent risk of catastrophic marine disasters and property losses caused by adverse weather conditions, mechanical failures, human error, war, terrorism and other circumstances or events. In addition, the transportation of crude oil is subject to the risk of spills, and business interruptions due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities, labor strikes and boycotts. OPA has made liability insurance more expensive for ship owners and operators imposing potentially unlimited liability upon owners, operators and bareboat charterers for oil pollution incidents in the territorial waters of the United States. We believe that our current insurance coverage is adequate to protect us against the principal accident-related risks that we face in the conduct of our business.
Our protection and indemnity insurance (“P&I insurance”) covers third party liabilities and other related expenses from, among other things, injury or death of crew, passengers and other third parties, claims arising from collisions, damage to cargo and other third party property and pollution arising from oil or other substances. Our current P&I insurance coverage for pollution is the maximum commercially available amount of $1.0 billion per vessel per incident and is provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations. Each of the vessels currently in our fleet is entered in a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of Protection & Indemnity Clubs. The 12 protection and indemnity associations that comprise the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world's commercial tonnage and have entered into a pooling agreement to re-insure each association's liabilities. The International Group’s website states that the Pool provides a
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mechanism for sharing all claims in excess of $10.0 million up to, currently, approximately $8.9 billion (up to a maximum of $3.1 billion for any one individual claim). As a member of protection and indemnity associations, which are, in turn, members of the International Group, we are subject to calls payable to the associations based on its claim records as well as the claim records of all other members of the individual associations and members of the pool of protection and indemnity associations comprising the International Group.
Our hull and machinery insurance covers actual or constructive total loss from covered risks of collision, fire, heavy weather, grounding and engine failure or damages from the same. Our war risks insurance covers risks of confiscation, seizure, capture, vandalism, terrorism, sabotage and other war-related risks. Our loss-of-hire insurance covers loss of revenue for not less than $20,000 per day for Suezmax tankers and VLCCs for not less than 180 days resulting from an accident covered by the terms of our hull and machinery insurance for each of our vessels, with a 60 day deductible for all Suezmax tankers and VLCCs. Our LR2/Aframax product tankers are insured for not less than $20,000 for 90 days with a deductible of 14 days.
C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
See Exhibit 8.1 to this Form 20-F for a list of our significant subsidiaries.
D. PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
The Company's Vessels
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the fleet that we operated as of December 31, 2025:
Vessel Built Approximate Dwt. Flag Type of Employment(1)
VLCCs
Front Duke (5) 2016 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Duchess (5) 2017 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Earl 2017 303,000 MI Spot market
Front Prince (5) 2017 301,000 MI Spot market
Front Empire 2018 303,000 MI Spot market
Front Princess (5) 2018 302,000 MI Spot market
Front Defender 2019 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Discovery 2019 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Dynamic 2020 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Driva 2019 319,000 CY Spot market
Front Nausta (2) 2019 319,000 CY Time charter
Front Alta 2022 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Tweed 2022 300,000 MLT Spot market
Front Tana 2022 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Gaula 2022 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Orkla 2023 300,000 CY Spot market
Front Tyne 2023 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Maine 2021 299,600 MI Spot market
Front Vosso (5) 2017 297,400 LIB Spot market
Front Rauma 2016 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Osen 2016 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Hawke (5) 2017 299,000 MI Spot market
Front Cloud 2016 299,400 MI Spot market
Front Neiden 2021 300,200 MI Spot market
Front Flores (5) 2017 298,600 MI Spot market
Front Gander 2023 299,200 MI Spot market
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Front Eagle 2020 299,600 LIB Spot market
Front Beaver 2023 299,200 MI Spot market
Front Beauly 2023 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Surna 2016 299,000 LIB Spot market
Front Naver 2021 300,200 MI Spot market
Front Eira (6) 2019 299,600 LIB Spot market
Front Humber 2017 298,800 MI Spot market
Front Morgan 2021 300,200 MI Spot market
Front Clyde 2016 299,300 MI Spot market
Front Forth 2016 299,300 LIB Spot market
Front Spey 2016 299,500 MI Spot market
Front Otra 2016 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Tay 2016 300,000 MI Spot market
Front Dee 2015 300,000 LIB Spot market
Front Vefsna 2017 297,400 LIB Spot market
Suezmax Tankers
Front Ull 2014 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Idun 2015 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Crown 2016 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Challenger 2016 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Classic 2017 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Clipper 2017 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Crystal 2017 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Coral 2017 158,000 MI Spot market
Front Cosmos 2017 158,000 MI Spot market
Front Cascade 2017 157,000 MI Spot market
Front Sparta 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Samara (3) 2019 157,000 MLT Time charter
Front Siena 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Singapore 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Seoul 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Santiago 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Savannah 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Suez 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Shanghai 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Silkeborg 2019 157,000 HK Spot market
Front Cruiser 2020 157,000 MI Spot market
LR2/Aframax Tankers
Front Ocelot 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Cheetah 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Lynx 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Cougar 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Leopard 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Jaguar 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Altair 2016 110,000 MI Spot market
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Front Antares 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Vega 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Sirius 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Castor 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Pollux 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Capella 2017 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Polaris 2018 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Fusion 2021 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Future 2021 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Favour 2021 110,000 MI Spot market
Front Feature (4) 2021 110,000 MI Time charter
1.Time Charter includes those contracts with initial durations in excess of 12 months.
2.In March 2024, the Company entered into a fixed rate time charter to a third party for a three-year period.
3.In April 2024, the Company entered into a variable rate time charter to a third party for a three-year period.
4.In August 2022, the Company entered into a fixed rate time charter to a third party for a three-year period. In October 2025, the Company extended the time charter for a further 11 months.
5.In January 2026, the Company entered into one-year time charter-out agreements for seven of our VLCCs, built between 2016 and 2018, at an average rate of $76,900 per day per vessel. The charters for three vessels commenced in the first quarter of 2026, and the remaining four charters are expected to commence in April 2026.
6.In February 2026, the Company entered into a one-year time charter-out agreement at a rate of $93,500 per day. The charter commenced in late February 2026.
Key to Flags:
CY - Cyprus, MLT - Malta, MI – Marshall Islands, HK – Hong Kong, LIB - Liberia.
Other than our interests in the vessels described above, we do not own any material physical properties. We lease office space in various locations, which are not considered material.