Euronav, Diamond S Shipping and Frontline Join in Suezmax Chartering Joint Venture

ANTWERP, Belgium, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Euronav NV (NYSE: EURN & Euronext: EURN) ("Euronav") today announces the formation of a commercial joint venture with Diamond S Management LLC and Frontline Ltd. The aim of the joint venture is to create a single point of contact for cargo owners to access a large fleet of 43 modern Suezmax vessels, including newbuildings, operated on the spot market. The joint venture will be named Suezmax Chartering.

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A larger fleet will provide more flexibility and more options for cargo owners, reduce voyage related expenses through optimisation of voyages and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a direct consequence of using less fuel for cargo movements.

The joint venture will commence operation today from the existing offices of Euronav, Diamond S and Frontline Management AS.

Paddy Rodgers, CEO of Euronav, said: "I am delighted to start this exciting marketing venture in the Suezmax sector with Diamond S and Frontline. All three companies' management share a similar vision in bringing greater transparency to what is a highly fragmented industrial structure. We look forward to working closely with our partners in this initiative."

Forward-Looking Statements  

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should", "expect", "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Announcement of second quarter results 2016: Thursday 28 July 2016 

About Euronav 

Euronav is an independent tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil and petroleum products. The Company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices throughout Europe and Asia. Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN. Euronav employs its fleet both on the spot and period market. VLCCs on the spot market are traded in the Tankers International pool of which Euronav is one of the major partners. Euronav's owned and operated fleet consists of 55 double hulled vessels being one V-Plus vessel, 30 VLCCs (of which 1 in 50%-50% joint venture), 22 Suezmaxes (of which four are owned in 50%-50% joint ventures) and two FSO vessels (both owned in 50%-50% joint venture). The Company's vessels mainly fly Belgian, Greek, French and Marshall Island flags.

Regulated information within the meaning of the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007. 

SOURCE Euronav NV