International Seaways, Inc. (NYSE: INSW) has acquired sole ownership of Tankers International, one of the world’s leading shipping pools, while simultaneously expanding the platform beyond its traditional VLCC focus to include Suezmax vessels.

The acquisition, completed Tuesday, marks a significant transformation for Tankers International, which was founded in 2000 to provide commercial and administrative management of modern, independent VLCC tonnage. With the deal, International Seaways will contribute its spot trading Suezmaxes to a newly formed pool dedicated to commercially managing this vessel class.

The expansion into the Suezmax sector represents a calculated response to evolving market dynamics, according to Charlie Grey, Chief Executive Officer of Tankers International. “Today’s announcement is very much the culmination of a strategic plan that has been years in the making, and signals the start of a new, exciting phase for Tankers International,” Grey said.

Grey explained the strategic rationale behind diversifying beyond VLCCs. “While VLCCs will remain a cornerstone of what we do, we recognised that there is an overarching need for greater agility and flexibility amid a rapidly changing global marketplace. We believe that agility is the new stability,” he explained. The expansion will provide access to additional market data and insights that benefit all pool members, he noted.

The new Suezmax pool is designed to provide charterers and partners with enhanced operational efficiency and a broader cargo base across crude transportation markets. By leveraging collective scale, intelligence, and expertise across both vessel classes, Tankers International aims to maximize earnings potential through improved decision-making for both Suezmax and VLCC pool partners.

“We’re excited about Tankers International’s expansion into the Suezmax sector, which we believe creates highly attractive opportunities going forward,” said Lois K Zabrocky, Chief Executive Officer of International Seaways. “Our relationship dates back more than 25 years, and the success we’ve achieved together with our co-founding partners has created a strong, well-positioned entity with a clear strategy for the future,” Zabrocky said.

Under Tankers International’s pooling model, the company’s team manages all operations while each pool member is granted an equal vote. Grey noted this governance structure will remain critical “in navigating complex trade routes, meeting charterers’ transportation needs and delivering competitive returns” as market conditions continue to evolve.

Tankers International operates offices in London, New York, and Singapore, maintaining what it describes as a truly global offering for customers and pool participants. The company was the first to pool vessels at scale and continues to operate the largest fleet of modern VLCC vessels in the world.