Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC. 20549
 
FORM 20-F

(Mark One)
 
o
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)
 
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
 
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2018
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
 
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the transition period from _________________ to _________________
OR
o
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of event requiring this shell company report  _______________________________
 
Commission file number
001-16601
Frontline Ltd.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
 
Bermuda
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
James Ayers, Telephone: (1) 441 295 6935, Facsimile: (1) 441 295 3494,
 Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
 
 
 
Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 Per Share
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
 

 
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 Per Share
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

169,821,192 Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 Per Share

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes o                                            No ý

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes o                                            No ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ý                                            No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ý                                            No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” "smaller reporting company," and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  o
Accelerated filer  x
Non-accelerated filer  o
 
Smaller reporting company  o
Emerging growth company  o
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    o

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP x
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board o
Other o

If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 o
 
Item 18 o

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  
o
No  
ý




INDEX TO REPORT ON FORM 20-F
 
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this annual report and the documents incorporated by reference may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements, which 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.

Frontline Ltd. and its subsidiaries, or 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. This annual report and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. When used in this document, the words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect" and similar expressions, terms or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this annual report are based upon various assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and 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. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this annual report.

In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies, fluctuations in currencies and interest rates, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in the supply and demand for vessels comparable to ours, changes in world wide oil production and consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company's vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, our ability to obtain financing and comply with the restrictions and other covenants in our financing arrangements, availability of skilled workers and the related labor costs, compliance with governmental, tax, environmental and safety regulation, any non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) or other applicable regulations relating to bribery, general economic conditions and conditions in the oil industry, effects of new products and new technology in our industry, the failure of counter parties to fully perform their contracts with us, our dependence on key personnel, adequacy of insurance coverage, our ability to obtain indemnities from customers, changes in laws, treaties or regulations, the volatility of the price of our ordinary shares; our incorporation under the laws of Bermuda and the different rights to relief that may be available compared to other countries, including the United States, 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, political events or acts by terrorists, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission or Commission.

We caution readers of this annual report not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. These forward looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Please see our Risk Factors in Item 3 of this annual report for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.


1


PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Throughout this annual report, the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" all refer to Frontline Ltd. and its subsidiaries. We use the term deadweight ton, or dwt, in describing the size of vessels. Dwt, expressed in metric tons, which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, refers to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can carry. The Company operates oil tankers of two sizes: very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, which are between 200,000 and 320,000 dwt, and Suezmax tankers, which are vessels between 120,000 and 170,000 dwt. The Company also operates LR2/Aframax tankers, which are clean product tankers and range in size from 111,000 to 115,000 dwt. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "USD," "US$" and "$" in this annual report are U.S. dollars.

A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

On July 1, 2015, the Company, Frontline Acquisition Ltd, or Frontline Acquisition, a newly formed and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Frontline 2012 Ltd, or Frontline 2012, entered into an agreement and plan of merger, (as amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which Frontline Acquisition and Frontline 2012 agreed to enter into a merger transaction, or the Merger, with Frontline 2012 as the surviving legal entity and thus becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. For accounting purposes, the Merger with Frontline 2012 has been treated as a reverse business acquisition. The financial statements reflect the reverse business acquisition of the Company by Frontline 2012 for the period since November 30, 2015.

The selected statement of operations data of the Company with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and the selected balance sheet data of the Company as of December 31, 2018, and 2017, have been derived from the Company's consolidated financial statements included herein and should be read in conjunction with such statements and the notes thereto. The selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016, and 2015 have been derived from consolidated financial statements of the Company not included herein. The selected statement of operations data with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, has been derived from consolidated financial statements of the Company not included herein. The selected statement of operations data with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 have been derived from consolidated financial statements of Frontline 2012 not included herein.

The following table should also be read in conjunction with Item 5. "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein. The Company's accounts are maintained in U.S. dollars.

2


 
 
Fiscal year ended December 31,
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

(in thousands of $, except ordinary shares, per share data and ratios)
Statement of Operations Data (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating revenues (2)
 
742,266

 
646,326

 
754,306

 
458,934

 
241,826

Total operating expenses
 
669,761

 
844,978

 
574,142

 
280,639

 
190,103

Net operating income (loss)
 
82,711

 
(196,271
)
 
177,481

 
287,218

 
120,712

Net (loss) income from continuing operations
 
(8,398
)
 
(264,322
)
 
117,514

 
255,386

 
137,414

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations after non-controlling interest
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(100,701
)
 
12,055

Net (loss) income attributable to the Company
 
(8,880
)
 
(264,861
)
 
117,010

 
154,624

 
149,469

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to the Company from continuing operations (3)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(1.56
)
 
$
0.75

 
$
2.13

 
$
1.10

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to the Company from discontinued operations (3)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(0.84
)
 
$
0.10

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to the Company (3)
 
$
(0.05
)
 
$
(1.56
)
 
$
0.75

 
$
1.29

 
$
1.19

Dividends per share declared (3) (4)
 
$
—

 
$
0.30

 
$
1.05

 
$
0.25

 
$
4.46


 
 
Fiscal year ended December 31,
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

(in thousands of $, except ordinary shares and ratios)
Balance Sheet Data (at end of year) (1):
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
66,484

 
104,145

 
202,402

 
264,524

 
235,801

  Newbuildings
 
52,254

 
79,602

 
308,324

 
266,233

 
227,050

  Vessels and equipment, net
 
2,476,755

 
2,342,130

 
1,477,395

 
1,189,198

 
861,919

  Vessels and equipment under capital lease, net
 
90,676

 
251,698

 
536,433

 
694,226

 
—

Investment in associated company
 
6,246

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
59,448

Total assets
 
3,077,841

 
3,133,728

 
2,966,317

 
2,883,468

 
2,497,005

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 
120,479

 
113,078

 
67,365

 
57,575

 
44,052

Current portion of obligations under capital leases
 
11,854

 
43,316

 
56,505

 
89,798

 
—

Long-term debt (8)
 
1,610,293

 
1,467,074

 
914,592

 
745,695

 
468,760

Obligations under capital leases
 
87,930

 
255,700

 
366,095

 
446,553

 
—

Share capital
 
169,821

 
169,809

 
169,809

 
781,938

 
635,205

Total equity attributable to the Company
 
1,163,800

 
1,187,308

 
1,499,601

 
1,446,282

 
1,123,580

Ordinary shares outstanding (000s) (3)
 
169,821

 
169,809

 
169,809

 
156,387

 
116,712

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding (000s) (3)
 
169,810

 
169,809

 
156,973

 
120,082

 
125,189

Other Financial Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity to assets ratio (percentage) (5)
 
37.8
%
 
37.9
%
 
50.6
%
 
50.2
%
 
45.0
%
Debt to equity ratio (6)
 
1.6

 
1.6

 
0.9

 
0.9

 
0.5

Price earnings ratio (7)
 
(110.6
)
 
(2.9
)
 
9.5

 
11.6

 
8.8

Time charter equivalent revenue (9)
 
339,196

 
365,059

 
566,701

 
342,773

 
136,503


Notes:


3


1.
Frontline 2012 determined that the stock dividend of 75.4 million of its shares in Golden Ocean Group Limited (formerly Knightsbridge Shipping Limited, NASDAQ: VLCCF), or Golden Ocean, in June 2015 represented a significant strategic shift in its business and, therefore, recorded the results of its dry bulk operations as discontinued operations in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The balance sheet at December 31, 2014 has also been presented on a discontinued operations basis.

2.
The Company adopted ASC 606 effective from January 1, 2018. Prior periods have not been restated for the impact of this standard, see Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation of the impact of the adoption of ASC 606.

3.
Earnings and dividends per share amounts, the number of ordinary shares outstanding and the weighted average ordinary shares outstanding have been restated to reflect the effect of the reverse business acquisition on November 30, 2015 and the 1-for-5 reverse share split that was effected on February 3, 2016.

4.
In June 2015, Frontline 2012 paid a stock dividend consisting of 75.4 million Golden Ocean shares. In March 2015, Frontline 2012 paid a stock dividend consisting of 4.1 million shares of Avance Gas Holding Limited, or Avance Gas.

5.
Equity-to-assets ratio is calculated as total equity attributable to the Company divided by total assets.

6.
Debt-to-equity ratio is calculated as total interest bearing current and long-term liabilities, including obligations under capital leases, divided by total equity attributable to the Company.

7.
Price earnings ratio is calculated by dividing the closing year end share price by basic earnings per share attributable to the Company. For 2014 the price earnings ratio has been calculated by dividing the closing year end share price for Frontline 2012 by basic earnings per share attributable to the Company. Each year end share price has been adjusted for the 1-for-5 reverse share split in February 2016 and the share price at the end of 2014 has been adjusted for the share exchange ratio in the Merger.

8.
The Company has recorded debt issuance costs (i.e. deferred charges) as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt rather than as an asset following its adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 and has applied this on a retrospective basis for all periods presented.

9.
A reconciliation of time charter equivalent revenues to total operating revenues as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
(in thousands of $)
 
2018

 
2017

 
2016

 
2015

 
2014

Total operating revenues
 
742,266

 
646,326

 
754,306

 
458,934

 
241,826

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance lease interest income
 
(1,293
)
 
(1,748
)
 
(2,194
)
 
(577
)
 
—

Other income
 
(24,005
)
 
(20,185
)
 
(23,770
)
 
(5,878
)
 
(1,615
)
Voyage expenses and commissions
 
(377,772
)
 
(259,334
)
 
(161,641
)
 
(109,706
)
 
(103,708
)
Time charter equivalent revenue
 
339,196

 
365,059

 
566,701

 
342,773

 
136,503


Consistent with general practice in the shipping industry, the Company uses time charter equivalent revenue, or TCE, which represents operating revenues less other income and voyage expenses, as a measure to compare revenue generated from a voyage charter to revenue generated from a time charter. Time charter equivalent revenue, a non-GAAP measure, provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with operating revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, because it assists Company management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of its vessels and in evaluating the Company's financial performance.

B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

Not applicable.

C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.

4



D. RISK FACTORS
 
We are engaged in the seaborne transportation of crude oil and oil products. The following summarizes the risks that may materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Industry
If the tanker industry, which historically has been cyclical and volatile, declines in the future, our revenues, earnings and available cash flow may be adversely affected
Historically, the tanker industry has been highly cyclical, with volatility in profitability, charter rates and asset values resulting from changes in the supply of, and demand for, tanker capacity and changes in the supply of and demand for oil and oil products. These factors may adversely affect the rates payable and the amounts we receive in respect of our vessels. Our ability to re-charter our vessels on the expiration or termination of their current spot and time charters and the charter rates payable under any renewal or replacement charters will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the tanker market and we cannot guarantee that any renewal or replacement charters we enter into will be sufficient to allow us to operate our vessels profitably.
The factors that influence demand for tanker capacity include:
•
supply and demand for oil and oil products;
•
global and regional economic and political conditions, including developments in international trade, national oil reserves policies, fluctuations in industrial and agricultural production and armed conflicts;
•
regional availability of refining capacity;
•
environmental and other legal and regulatory developments;
•
changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including changes in the distances over which tanker cargoes are transported by sea;
•
increases in the production of oil in areas linked by pipelines to consuming areas, the extension of existing, or the development of new, pipeline systems in markets we may serve, or the conversion of existing non-oil pipelines to oil pipelines in those markets;
•
currency exchange rates;
•
weather and acts of God and natural disasters;
•
competition from alternative sources of energy and from other shipping companies and other modes of transport;
•
international sanctions, embargoes, import and export restrictions, nationalizations, piracy and wars; and
•
regulatory changes including regulations adopted by supranational authorities and/or industry bodies, such as safety and environmental regulations and requirements by major oil companies.

The factors that influence the supply of tanker capacity include:
•
current and expected purchase orders for tankers;
•
the number of tanker newbuilding deliveries;
•
any potential delays in the delivery of newbuilding vessels and/or cancellations of newbuilding orders;
•
the scrapping rate of older tankers;
•
technological advances in tanker design and capacity;
•
tanker freight rates, which are affected by factors that may affect the rate of newbuilding, swapping and laying up of tankers;
•
port and canal congestion;
•
slow-steaming of vessels;
•
price of steel and vessel equipment;
•
conversion of tankers to other uses or conversion of other vessels to tankers;
•
the number of tankers that are out of service; and
•
changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of tankers.

The factors affecting the supply and demand for tankers have been volatile and are outside of our control, and the nature, timing and degree of changes in industry conditions are unpredictable, including those discussed above. Market conditions were volatile in 2018 and continued volatility may reduce demand for transportation of oil over longer distances and increase supply of tankers to carry that oil, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends and existing contractual obligations.

5


Any decrease in shipments of crude oil may adversely affect our financial performance
The demand for our oil tankers derives primarily from demand for Arabian Gulf, West African, North Sea and Caribbean crude oil, which, in turn, primarily depends on the economies of the world's industrial countries and competition from alternative energy sources. A wide range of economic, social and other factors can significantly affect the strength of the world's industrial economies and their demand for crude oil from the mentioned geographical areas. Any decrease in shipments of crude oil from the above mentioned geographical areas would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance. Among the factors which could lead to such a decrease are:
•
increased crude oil production from other areas;
•
increased refining capacity in the Arabian Gulf or West Africa;
•
increased use of existing and future crude oil pipelines in the Arabian Gulf or West Africa;
•
a decision by Arabian Gulf or West African oil-producing nations to increase their crude oil prices or to further decrease or limit their crude oil production;
•
armed conflict in the Arabian Gulf and West Africa and political or other factors; and
•
the development, availability and the costs of nuclear power, natural gas, coal and other alternative sources of energy.

In addition, volatile economic conditions affecting the United States and world economies may result in reduced consumption of oil products and a decreased demand for our vessels and lower charter rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and our ability to pay dividends.
An over-supply of tanker capacity may lead to reductions in charter rates, vessel values and profitability
In recent years, shipyards have produced a large number of new tankers. If the capacity of new vessels delivered exceeds the capacity of tankers being scrapped and converted to non-trading tankers, tanker capacity will increase. If the supply of tanker capacity increases and the demand for tanker capacity does not increase correspondingly, charter rates could materially decline. A reduction in charter rates and the value of our vessels may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, our ability to pay dividends and our compliance with current or future covenants in any of our agreements.
A shift in consumer demand from oil towards other energy sources or changes to trade patterns for crude oil or refined oil products may have a material adverse effect on our business.
A significant portion of our earnings are related to the oil industry.  A shift in the consumer demand from oil towards other energy resources such as wind energy, solar energy, or water energy will potentially affect the demand for our tankers.  This could have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
Seaborne trading and distribution patterns are primarily influenced by the relative advantage of the various sources of production, locations of consumption, pricing differentials and seasonality. Changes to the trade patterns of crude oil or refined oil products may have a significant negative or positive impact on the ton-mile and therefore the demand for our tankers. This could have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
The smuggling of drugs or other contraband onto our vessels may lead to governmental claims against us.
There is a risk that our vessels will call at ports where smugglers may attempt to hide drugs and other contraband on vessels, with or without the knowledge of crew members. To the extent our vessels are found with contraband, whether inside or attached to the hull of our vessel and whether with or without the knowledge of any of our crew, we may face governmental or other regulatory claims which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
Technological innovation could reduce our charterhire income and the value of our vessels.
The charterhire rates and the value and operational life of a vessel are determined by a number of factors including the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life. Efficiency includes speed, fuel economy and the ability to load and discharge cargo quickly. Flexibility includes the ability to enter harbors, utilize related docking facilities and pass through canals and straits. The length of a vessel’s physical life is related to its original design and construction, its maintenance and the impact of the stress of operations. If new tankers are built that are more efficient or more flexible or have longer physical lives than our vessels, competition from these more technologically advanced vessels could adversely affect the amount of charterhire payments we receive for our vessels and the resale value of our vessels could significantly decrease. This could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

6


.
We rely on our information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, if these systems fail or become unavailable for any significant period of time, our business could be harmed.
The efficient operation of our business, including processing, transmitting and storing electronic and financial information, is dependent on computer hardware and software systems.  Information systems are vulnerable to security breaches by computer hackers and cyber terrorists.  We rely on industry accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential and proprietary information maintained on our information systems.  However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent security breaches.  In addition, the unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and could result in decreased performance and increased operating costs, causing our business and results of operations to suffer.  Any significant interruption or failure of our information systems or any significant breach of security could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Risks Related to Shipping Generally
Risks involved with operating ocean-going vessels could result in the loss of life or harm to our seafarers, or affect our business and reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition
The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. These risks include the possibility of:
•
loss of life or harm to seafarers;
•
a marine disaster;
•
terrorism;
•
environmental accidents;
•
cargo and property losses or damage; and
•
business interruptions caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, political action in various countries, labor strikes, or adverse weather conditions.

Any of these circumstances or events could increase our costs or lower our revenues. The involvement of our vessels in an accident or oil spill or other environmental disaster may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable tanker operator.
If economic conditions throughout the world deteriorate or become more volatile, it could impede our operations.

Our ability to secure funding is dependent on well-functioning capital markets and on an appetite to provide funding to the shipping industry. At present, capital markets are well-functioning and funding is available for the shipping industry. However, if global economic conditions worsen or lenders for any reason decide not to provide debt financing to us, we may not be able to secure additional financing to the extent required, on acceptable terms or at all. If additional financing is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our obligations as they come due, or we may be unable to enhance our existing business, complete additional vessel acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

The world economy faces a number of challenges, including the effects of volatile oil prices, continuing turmoil and hostilities in the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, North Africa and other geographic areas and countries. If one or more of the major national or regional economies should weaken, there is a substantial risk that such a downturn will impact the world economy. There has historically been a strong link between the development of the world economy and demand for energy, including oil and gas. An extended period of deterioration in the outlook for the world economy could reduce the overall demand for oil and gas and for our services. While market conditions have improved, continued adverse and developing economic and governmental factors, together with the concurrent volatility in charter rates and vessel values, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.
In Europe, large sovereign debts and fiscal deficits, low growth prospects and high unemployment rates in a number of countries have contributed to the rise of Eurosceptic parties, which would like their countries to leave the Euro. The exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and potential new trade policies in the United States further increase the risk of additional trade protectionism. The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union following a referendum in June 2016, or Brexit, contributes to considerable uncertainty concerning the current and future economic environment. Brexit could adversely affect European or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in global political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. We believe that these effects of Brexit won’t materially affect our business,

7


results of operations and financial condition.

Continued economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region, especially in China, may exacerbate the effect on us of the recent slowdown in the rest of the world. In recent history, China has had one of the world's fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, which had a significant impact on shipping demand. The growth rate of China's GDP for the year ended December 31, 2018, however, is estimated to be around 6.6%, down from the growth rate of 6.9% for the year ended December 31, 2017. China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region may continue to experience slowed or even negative economic growth in the future. Our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, would likely be impeded by a continuing or worsening economic downturn in any of these countries.

Credit markets in the United States and Europe have in the past experienced significant contraction, de-leveraging and reduced liquidity, and there is a risk that U.S. federal government and state governments and European authorities continue to implement a broad variety of governmental action and/or new regulation of the financial markets. Global financial markets and economic conditions have been, and continue to be, volatile.
Further, governments may turn to trade barriers to protect their domestic industries against foreign imports, thereby depressing shipping demand. In particular, leaders in the United States have indicated the United States may seek to implement more protective trade measures. President Trump was elected on a platform promoting trade protectionism. The results of the presidential election have thus created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States, China and other exporting countries, including with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. For example, on January 23, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global trade agreement intended to include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru and a number of Asian countries. In March 2018, President Trump announced tariffs on imported steel and aluminum into the United States that could have a negative impact on international trade generally. Most recently, in January 2019, the United States announced expanded sanctions against Venezuela, which may have an effect on its oil output and in turn affect global oil supply. Protectionist developments, or the perception they may occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions, and may significantly reduce global trade. Moreover, increasing trade protectionism may cause an increase in (a) the cost of goods exported from regions globally, (b) the length of time required to transport goods and (c) the risks associated with exporting goods. Such increases may significantly affect the quantity of goods to be shipped, shipping time schedules, voyage costs and other associated costs, which could have an adverse impact on our charterers’ business, operating results and financial condition and could thereby affect their ability to make timely charter hire payments to us and to renew and increase the number of their time charters with us. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We face risks attendant to changes in economic environments, changes in interest rates and instability in the banking and securities markets around the world, among other factors. We cannot predict how long the current market conditions will last. These recent and developing economic and governmental factors may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and may cause the price of our common shares to decline.
Prospective investors should consider the potential impact, uncertainty and risk associated with the development in the wider global economy. Further economic downturn in any of these countries could have a material effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business
Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. Sea piracy incidents continue to occur, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and increasingly in the Gulf of Guinea, with tankers particularly vulnerable to such attacks. Acts of piracy could result in harm or danger to the crews that man our tankers. In addition, these piracy attacks occur in regions in which our vessels are deployed that insurers characterize as "war risk" zones or by the Joint War Committee as "war and strikes" listed areas, premiums payable for such coverage could increase significantly and such insurance coverage may be more difficult to obtain. In addition, crew costs, including costs which may be incurred to the extent we employ on-board security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, detention hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost, or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends and may result in loss of revenues, increased costs and decreased cash flows to our customers, which could impair their ability to make payments to us under our charters.
World events could affect our operations and financial results

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Past terrorist attacks, as well as the threat of future terrorist attacks around the world, continue to cause uncertainty in the world’s financial markets and may affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Continuing conflicts, instability and other recent developments in the Middle East and elsewhere, and the presence of U.S. or other armed forces in Afghanistan and Syria, may lead to additional acts of terrorism and armed conflict around the world, which may contribute to further economic instability in the global financial markets. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our vessels may call at ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, which could adversely affect our reputation and the market for our ordinary shares
From time to time on charterers' instructions, our vessels may call on ports located in countries subject to sanctions and embargoes imposed by the United States government and countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. In the past, certain of our vessels have made port calls to Iran and six of our vessels made six port calls in total to Iran during 2018. The U.S. sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or strengthened over time. With effect from July 1, 2010, the U.S. enacted the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act, or CISADA, which expanded the scope of the Iran Sanctions Act. Among other things, CISADA expands the application of the prohibitions to companies, such as ours, and introduces limits on the ability of companies and persons to do business or trade with Iran when such activities relate to the investment, supply or export of refined petroleum or petroleum products. In addition, on May 1, 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13608 which prohibits foreign persons from violating or attempting to violate, or causing a violation of any sanctions in effect against Iran or facilitating any deceptive transactions for or on behalf of any person subject to U.S. sanctions. Any persons found to be in violation of Executive Order 13608 will be deemed a foreign sanctions evader and will be banned from all contacts with the United States, including conducting business in U.S. dollars. Also in 2012, President Obama signed into law the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, or the Iran Threat Reduction Act, which created new sanctions and strengthened existing sanctions. Among other things, the Iran Threat Reduction Act intensifies existing sanctions regarding the provision of goods, services, infrastructure or technology to Iran's petroleum or petrochemical sector. The Iran Threat Reduction Act also includes a provision requiring the President of the United States to impose five or more sanctions from Section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended, on a person the President determines is a controlling beneficial owner of, or otherwise owns, operates, or controls or insures a vessel that was used to transport crude oil from Iran to another country and (1) if the person is a controlling beneficial owner of the vessel, the person had actual knowledge the vessel was so used or (2) if the person otherwise owns, operates, or controls, or insures the vessel, the person knew or should have known the vessel was so used. Such a person could be subject to a variety of sanctions, including exclusion from U.S. capital markets, exclusion from financial transactions subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and exclusion of that person's vessels from U.S. ports for up to two years.
On November 24, 2013, the P5+1 (the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China) entered into an interim agreement with Iran entitled the “Joint Plan of Action”, or JPOA. Under the JPOA it was agreed that, in exchange for Iran taking certain voluntary measures to ensure that its nuclear program is used only for peaceful purposes, the U.S. and EU would voluntarily suspend certain sanctions for a period of six months. On January 20, 2014, the U.S. and E.U. indicated that they would begin implementing the temporary relief measures provided for under the JPOA. These measures included, among other things, the suspension of certain sanctions on the Iranian petrochemicals, precious metals, and automotive industries from January 20, 2014 until July 20, 2014. The JPOA was subsequently extended twice.
On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 and the EU announced that they reached a landmark agreement with Iran titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Program, or JCPOA, which is intended to significantly restrict Iran’s ability to develop and produce nuclear weapons for 10 years while simultaneously easing sanctions directed toward non-U.S. persons for conduct involving Iran, but taking place outside of U.S. jurisdiction and does not involve U.S. persons. On January 16, 2016, or Implementation Day, the United States joined the EU and the UN in lifting a significant number of their nuclear-related sanctions on Iran following an announcement by the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, that Iran had satisfied its respective obligations under the JCPOA.
U.S. sanctions prohibiting certain conduct that was permitted under the JCPOA were not actually repealed or permanently terminated. Rather, the U.S. government implemented changes to the sanctions regime by: (1) issuing waivers of certain statutory sanctions provisions; (2) committing to refrain from exercising certain discretionary sanctions authorities; (3) removing certain individuals and entities from OFAC's sanctions lists; and (4) revoking certain Executive Orders and specified sections of Executive Orders. These sanctions were not to be permanently "lifted" until the earlier of “Transition Day,” set to occur on October 20, 2023, or upon a report from the IAEA stating that all nuclear material in Iran is being used for peaceful activities. On October 13, 2017, President Trump announced that he would not certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA. This did not withdraw the U.S. from the JCPOA or reinstate any sanctions. On May 8, 2018, President Trump announced his decision to cease U.S. participation in the JCPOA and to reimpose the U.S. nuclear-related sanctions that were previously lifted, following two wind-

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down periods. The second wind-down period ended on November 4, 2018.
Although we believe that we have been in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business, and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in us. In addition, certain institutional investors may have investment policies or restrictions that prevent them from holding securities of companies that have contracts with countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The determination by these investors not to invest in, or to divest from, our common stock may adversely affect the price at which our common stock trades. Moreover, our charterers may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation. In addition, our reputation and the market for our securities may be adversely affected if we engage in certain other activities, such as entering into charters with individuals or entities in countries subject to U.S. sanctions and embargo laws that are not controlled by the governments of those countries, or engaging in operations associated with those countries pursuant to contracts with third parties that are unrelated to those countries or entities controlled by their governments. Investor perception of the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.
Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be costly and could reduce our net cash flows and net income
The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be certified as being "in class" 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 the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel's machinery may be placed on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. We expect our vessels to be on special survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel is also required to be dry docked every two and a half to five years for inspection of its underwater parts.
Compliance with the above requirements may result in significant expense. If any vessel does not maintain its class or fails any annual, intermediate or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations that can adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition
Our operations will be subject to numerous laws and regulations in the form of international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and national and international regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which our vessels operate or are registered, which can significantly affect the ownership and operation of our vessels. These requirements include, but are not limited to, European Union regulations, the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, the U.S. Clean Air Act, the U.S. Clean Water Act, the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, generally referred to as CLC, the IMO International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, generally referred to as MARPOL, the IMO International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, generally referred to as SOLAS, the IMO International Convention on Load Lines of 1966 and the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or the MTSA.  Compliance with such laws and regulations, where applicable, may require installation of costly equipment or operational changes and may affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels.  Compliance with such laws and regulations may require us to obtain certain permits or authorizations prior to commencing operations.  Failure to obtain such permits or authorizations could materially impact our business results of operations, financial conditions and ability to pay dividends by delaying or limiting our ability to accept charterers.  We may also incur additional costs in order to comply with other existing and future regulatory obligations, including, but not limited to, costs relating to air emissions including greenhouse gases, the management of ballast waters, maintenance and inspection, development and implementation of emergency procedures and insurance coverage or other financial assurance of our ability to address pollution incidents. Additionally, we cannot predict the cost of compliance with any new regulations that may be promulgated as a result of the 2010 BP plc Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or other similar incidents in the future. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
The IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, or the

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BWM Convention, in February 2004. 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. The BWM Convention was adopted by the required number of states and entered into force on September 8, 2017. Details about the BWM Convention are further discussed in the Environmental and Other Regulations section.
A failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of our operations. Environmental laws often impose strict liability for remediation of spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances, which could subject us to liability, without regard to whether we were negligent or at fault.  Under OPA, for example, owners, operators and bareboat charterers are jointly and severally strictly liable for the discharge of oil in U.S. waters, including the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the United States.  An oil spill could also result in significant liability, including fines, penalties, criminal liability and remediation costs for natural resource damages under other international and U.S. Federal, state and local laws, as well as third-party damages, including punitive damages, and could harm our reputation with current or potential charterers of our tankers.  We will be required to satisfy insurance and financial responsibility requirements for potential oil (including marine fuel) spills and other pollution incidents.  Although our technical manager will arrange for insurance to cover our vessels with respect to certain environmental risks, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be sufficient to cover all such risks or that any claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we fail to comply with international safety regulations, we may be subject to increased liability, which may adversely affect our insurance coverage and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports
The operation of our vessels is affected by the requirements set forth in the IMO's International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention, or the ISM Code. The ISM Code requires shipowners, ship managers and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive "Safety Management System" that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. If we fail to comply with the ISM Code, we may be subject to increased liability, including the invalidation of existing insurance or a decrease of available insurance coverage for our affected vessels and such failure may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.
Regulations relating to ballast water discharge coming into effect during September 2019 may adversely effect our revenues and profitability.
The IMO has imposed updated guidelines for ballast water management systems specifying the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged from a vessel’s ballast water. Depending on the date of the IOPP renewal survey, existing vessels constructed before September 8, 2017 must comply with the updated D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most vessels, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ships constructed on or after September 8, 2017 are to comply with the D-2 standards on or after September 8, 2017. We currently have 18 vessels that do not comply with the updated guideline as of December 31, 2018 and costs of compliance may be substantial and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Furthermore, United States regulations are currently changing. Although the 2013 Vessel General Permit, or VGP program and the U.S. National Invasive Species Act, or NISA, are currently in effect to regulate ballast discharge, exchange and installation, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018, requires that the U.S. Coast Guard develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations regarding ballast water within two years. The new regulations could require the installation of new equipment, which may cause us to incur substantial costs.

Maritime claimants could arrest one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow
Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien-holder may enforce its lien by "arresting" or "attaching" a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could result in a significant loss of earnings for the related off-hire period.
In addition, in jurisdictions where the "sister ship" theory of liability applies, such as South Africa, a claimant may arrest the vessel which is subject to the claimant's maritime lien and any "associated" vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. In countries with "sister ship" liability laws, claims might be asserted against us or any of our vessels for liabilities of other vessels that we own.
Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency resulting in a loss of earnings

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A government of a vessel's registry could requisition for title or seize one or more of our vessels. Requisition for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes the owner. A government could also requisition one or more of our vessels for hire. Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes the charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency. Government requisition of one or more of our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may be unable to comply with the covenants contained in our loan agreement, which could affect our ability to conduct our business
As of December 31, 2018, we had $1,740.6 million of outstanding debt. Certain of our debt facilities require us or our subsidiaries to maintain the following financial covenants; minimum value of vessels, value-adjusted equity, positive working capital, and a certain level of free cash.
Because some of these ratios are dependent on the market value of vessels, should vessel values materially decline in the future, we may be required to take action to reduce our debt, provide additional security or to act in a manner contrary to our business objectives to meet any such financial ratios and satisfy any such financial covenants. Events beyond our control, including changes in the economic and business conditions in the shipping markets in which we operate, may affect our ability to comply with these covenants. We cannot assure you that we will meet these ratios or satisfy our financial or other covenants or that our lenders will waive any failure to do so.
These financial and other covenants may adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities or take certain corporate actions. The covenants may also restrict our flexibility in planning for changes in our business and the industry and make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments. A breach of any of the covenants in, or our inability to maintain the required financial ratios under the credit facilities would prevent us from borrowing additional money under our credit facilities and could result in a default under our credit facilities. If a default occurs under our credit facilities, the lenders could elect to declare the issued and outstanding debt, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable and foreclose on the collateral securing that debt, which could constitute all or substantially all of our assets.
Delays or defaults by the shipyards in the construction of our newbuildings could increase our expenses and diminish our net income and cash flows
As of December 31, 2018, we had contracts for two newbuilding vessels. One vessel was delivered in January 2019 and one is expected to be delivered in April 2019. Vessel construction projects are generally subject to risks of delay that are inherent in any large construction project, which may be caused by numerous factors, including shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor, unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment or shipyard construction, failure of equipment to meet quality and/or performance standards, financial or operating difficulties experienced by equipment vendors or the shipyard, unanticipated actual or purported change orders, inability to obtain required permits or approvals, design or engineering changes and work stoppages and other labor disputes, adverse weather conditions or any other events of force majeure. Significant delays could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, failure to complete a project on time may result in the delay of revenue from that vessel, and we will continue to incur costs and expenses related to delayed vessels, such as supervision expense and interest expense for the issued and outstanding debt.
We are dependent on the spot market and any decrease in spot market rates in the future may adversely affect our earnings and our ability to pay dividends
As of December 31, 2018, 50 of the 51 vessels, which are owned, leased or chartered-in by us, were employed in the spot market or on short-term or variable rate time charters, and we are therefore exposed to fluctuations in spot market charter rates. Historically, the tanker market has been volatile as a result of the many conditions and factors that can affect the price, supply and demand for tanker capacity. The spot market may fluctuate significantly based upon supply and demand of vessels and cargoes. The successful operation of our vessels in the competitive spot market depends upon, among other things, obtaining profitable charters and minimizing, to the extent possible, time spent waiting for charters and time spent in ballast. The spot market is very volatile, and, in the past, there have been periods when spot rates have declined below the operating cost of vessels. If future spot market rates decline, then we may be unable to operate our vessels trading in the spot market profitably, meet our obligations, including payments on indebtedness, or to pay dividends in the future. Furthermore, as charter rates in the spot market are fixed for a single voyage, which may last up to several weeks, during periods in which charter rates are rising, we will generally experience delays in realizing

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the benefits from such increases.
Our ability to renew the charters on our vessels on the expiration or termination of our current charters, or on vessels that we may acquire in the future, or the charter rates payable under any replacement charters and vessel values will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the sectors in which our vessels operate at that time, changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for the seaborne transportation of energy resources.
A drop in spot market rates may provide an incentive for some charterers to default on their charters, and the failure of our counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business
We have entered into various contracts, including charter parties with our customers, which subject us to counterparty risks. The ability of each of the counterparties to perform its obligations under a contract with us or contracts entered into on our behalf will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the shipping sector, the overall financial condition of the counterparty, charter rates received for tankers and the supply and demand for commodities. Should a counterparty fail to honor its obligations under any such contracts, we could sustain significant losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends.
When we enter into a time charter, the rates under that charter are fixed for the term of the charter.  If the spot market rates or short-term time charter rates in the tanker industry become significantly lower than the time charter equivalent rates that some of our charterers are obligated to pay us under our existing charters, the charterers may have incentive to default under that charter or attempt to renegotiate the charter. If our charterers fail to pay their obligations, we would have to attempt to re-charter our vessels, which if re-chartered at lower rates, may affect our ability to operate our vessels profitably and may affect our ability to comply with current or future covenants contained in our loan agreements.
Further, if the charterer of a vessel in our fleet that is used as collateral under any loan agreement enters into default on its charter obligations to us, such default may constitute an event of default under such loan agreement, which could allow the bank to exercise remedies under the loan agreement. If our charterers fail to meet their obligations to us or attempt to renegotiate our charter agreements, we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, as well as our ability to pay dividends, if any, in the future, and compliance with current or future covenants in our loan agreements.
Changes in the price of fuel, or bunkers, may adversely affect our profits
For vessels on voyage charters, fuel oil, or bunkers, is a significant, if not the largest, expense. Changes in the price of fuel may adversely affect our profitability to the extent we have vessels on voyage charters. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns. Any future increase in the cost of fuel may reduce the profitability and competitiveness of our business versus other forms of transportation, such as truck or rail.
The operation of tankers involves certain unique operational risks
The operation of tankers has unique operational risks associated with the transportation of oil.  An oil spill may cause significant environmental damage, and a catastrophic spill could exceed the insurance coverage available. Compared to other types of vessels, tankers are exposed to a higher risk of damage and loss by fire, whether ignited by a terrorist attack, collision, or other cause, due to the high flammability and high volume of the oil transported in tankers.
Further, our vessels and their cargoes will be at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as marine disasters, bad weather and other acts of God, business interruptions caused by mechanical failures, grounding, fire, explosions and collisions, human error, war, terrorism, piracy and other circumstances or events. Changing economic, regulatory and political conditions in some countries, including political and military conflicts, have from time to time resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways, piracy, terrorism, labor strikes and boycotts. These hazards may result in death or injury to persons, loss of revenues or property, the payment of ransoms, environmental damage, higher insurance rates, damage to our customer relationships and market disruptions, delay or rerouting.
If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The costs of drydock repairs are unpredictable and may be substantial. We may have to pay drydocking costs that our insurance does not cover at all or in full. The loss of revenues while these vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs, may adversely affect our business

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and financial condition. In addition, space at drydocking facilities is sometimes limited and not all drydocking facilities are conveniently located. We may be unable to find space at a suitable drydocking facility or our vessels may be forced to travel to a drydocking facility that is not conveniently located relative to our vessels' positions. The loss of earnings while these vessels are forced to wait for space or to travel to more distant drydocking facilities may adversely affect our business and financial condition. Further, the total loss of any of our vessels could harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator.  If we are unable to adequately maintain or safeguard our vessels, we may be unable to prevent any such damage, costs or loss which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends.
Purchasing and operating secondhand vessels may result in increased operating costs and vessels off-hire, which could adversely affect our earnings
Even following a physical inspection of secondhand vessels prior to purchase, we do not have the same knowledge about their condition and cost of any required (or anticipated) repairs that we would have had if these vessels had been built for and operated exclusively by us. Accordingly, we may not discover defects or other problems with such vessels prior to purchase. Any such hidden defects or problems, when detected may be expensive to repair, and if not detected, may result in accidents or other incidents for which we may become liable to third parties. Also, when purchasing previously owned vessels, we typically do not receive the benefit of any builder warranties if the vessels we buy are older than one year.
In general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase with the age of the vessel. Older vessels are typically less fuel efficient than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine technology. Governmental regulations, safety and other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment to some of our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which these vessels may engage. We cannot assure you that, as our vessels age, market conditions will justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives. As a result, regulations and standards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends.
Our ability to obtain debt financing may be dependent on the performance of our then-existing charters and the creditworthiness of our charterers
We may incur additional bank debt in the future to fund, among other things, our general corporate purposes or the expansion of our fleet. The actual or perceived credit quality of our charterers, and any defaults by them, may materially affect our ability to obtain the capital resources required to purchase additional vessels or may significantly increase our costs of obtaining such capital. Our inability to obtain financing at anticipated costs or at all may materially affect our results of operation and our ability to implement our business strategy.

Volatility of LIBOR and potential changes of the use of LIBOR as a benchmark could affect our profitability, earnings and cash flow.

London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, is the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. These reforms and other pressures may cause LIBOR to be eliminated or to perform differently than in the past. The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could include an increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness and obligations. LIBOR has been volatile in the past, with the spread between LIBOR and the prime lending rate widening significantly at times. Because the interest rates borne by a majority of our outstanding indebtedness fluctuates with changes in LIBOR, significant changes in LIBOR would have a material effect on the amount of interest payable on our debt, which in turn, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.

Furthermore, interest in most financing agreements in our industry has been based on published LIBOR rates. Recently, however, there is uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process, which may result in the phasing out of LIBOR in the future. As a result, lenders have insisted on provisions that entitle the lenders, in their discretion, to replace published LIBOR as the base for the interest calculation with their cost-of-funds rate. If we are required to agree to such a provision in future financing agreements, our lending costs could increase significantly, which would have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow. In addition, the banks currently reporting information used to set LIBOR will likely stop such reporting after 2021, when their commitment to reporting information ends. The Alternative Reference Rate Committee, or “Committee”, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has proposed an alternative rate to replace U.S. Dollar LIBOR: the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or “SOFR.” The impact of such a transition away from LIBOR would be significant for us because of our substantial indebtedness.


Because the market value of our vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when we sell vessels which may

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adversely affect our earnings, or could cause us to incur impairment charges

The fair market value of vessels may increase and decrease depending on but not limited to the following factors:
•
general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry;
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the balance between supply of and demand for vessels of a certain size;
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competition from other shipping companies;
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types and sizes of vessels;
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the availability of other modes of transportation;
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cost of newbuildings;
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shipyard capacity;
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governmental or other regulations;
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age of vessels;
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prevailing level of charter rates;
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the need to upgrade secondhand and previously owned vessels as a result of charterer requirements; and
•
technological advances in vessel design or equipment or otherwise.

During the period a vessel is subject to a time charter, we will not be permitted to sell it to take advantage of increases in vessel values without the charterers' agreement. If we sell a vessel at a time when ship prices have fallen, the sale may be at less than the vessel's carrying amount on our financial statements, with the result that we could incur a loss and a reduction in earnings. In addition, if we determine at any time that a vessel's future limited useful life and earnings require us to impair its value on our financial statements, that could result in a charge against our earnings and a reduction of our shareholders' equity. It is possible that the market value of our vessels will decline in the future and could adversely affect our ability to comply with current or future financial covenants contained in our loan agreements or other financing arrangements. Any impairment charges incurred as a result of declines in charter rates and other market deterioration could negatively affect our business, financial condition, operating results or the trading price of our ordinary shares.
Conversely, if vessel values are elevated at a time when we wish to acquire additional vessels, the cost of acquisition may increase and this could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.
We may be unable to successfully compete with other vessel operators for charters, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position
The operation of tankers and transportation of crude and petroleum products is extremely competitive. Through our operating subsidiaries we compete with other vessel owners (including major oil companies as well as independent companies), and, to a lesser extent, owners of other size vessels. The tanker market is highly fragmented. It is possible that we could not obtain suitable employment for our vessels, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
Our time charters may limit our ability to benefit from any improvement in charter rates, and at the same time, our revenues may be adversely affected if we do not successfully employ our vessels on the expiration of our charters
As of December 31, 2018, one of the 51 vessels, which are owned, leased or chartered-in by us, was employed on fixed rate time charter with duration in excess of six months. While our fixed rate time charters generally provide reliable revenues, they also limit the portion of our fleet available for spot market voyages during an upswing in the tanker industry cycle, when spot market voyages might be more profitable. By the same token, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully employ our vessels in the future at rates sufficient to allow us to operate our business profitably or meet our obligations. A decline in charter or spot rates or a failure to successfully charter our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation and ability to pay dividends.
We may be unable to locate suitable vessels for acquisition which would adversely affect our ability to expand our fleet
Changing market and regulatory conditions may limit the availability of suitable vessels because of customer preferences or because vessels are not or will not be compliant with existing or future rules, regulations and conventions. Additional vessels of the age and quality we desire may not be available for purchase at prices we are prepared to pay or at delivery times acceptable to us, and we may not be able to dispose of vessels at reasonable prices, if at all. If we are unable to purchase and dispose of vessels at reasonable prices in response to changing market and regulatory conditions, our business may be adversely affected.
As we expand our fleet, we may not be able to recruit suitable employees and crew for our vessels which may limit our growth and cause our financial performance to suffer

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As we expand our fleet, we will need to recruit suitable crew, shoreside, administrative and management personnel. We may not be able to continue to hire suitable employees as we expand our fleet of vessels.  If we are unable to recruit suitable employees and crews, we may not be able to provide our services to customers, our growth may be limited and our financial performance may suffer.
Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and cause disruption of our business
International shipping is subject to security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin, destination and trans-shipment points. Under the MTSA, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. These security procedures can result in delays in the loading, offloading or trans-shipment and the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against exporters or importers and, in some cases, carriers. Future changes to the existing security procedures may be implemented that could affect the tanker sector. These changes have the potential to impose additional financial and legal obligations on carriers and, in certain cases, to render the shipment of certain types of goods uneconomical or impractical. These additional costs could reduce the volume of goods shipped, resulting in a decreased demand for vessels and have a negative effect on our business, revenues and customer relations.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could result in fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on our business
We may operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics which is consistent and in full compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or the FCPA. We are subject, however, to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or our or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take actions determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Furthermore, detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management.
As an exempted company incorporated under Bermuda law, our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements.

On December 5, 2017, following an assessment of the tax policies of various countries by the Code of Conduct Group for Business Taxation of the European Union (the “COCG”), the Council of the EU approved and published Council conclusions containing a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the “Conclusions”). Although not considered so-called “non-cooperative jurisdictions,” certain countries, including Bermuda, were listed as having “tax regimes that facilitate offshore structures which attract profits without real economic activity.” In connection with the Conclusions, and to avoid being placed on the list of “non-cooperative jurisdictions,” the government of Bermuda, among others, committed to addressing COCG proposals relating to economic substance for entities doing business in or through their respective jurisdictions and to pass legislation to implement any appropriate changes by the end of 2018.

The Economic Substance Act 2018 and the Economic Substance Regulations 2018 of Bermuda (the “Economic Substance Act” and the “Economic Substance Regulations”, respectively) became operative on December 31, 2018.  The Economic Substance Act applies to every registered entity in Bermuda that engages in a relevant activity and requires that every such entity shall maintain a substantial economic presence in Bermuda. Relevant activities for the purposes of the Economic Substance Act are banking business, insurance business, fund management business, financing business, leasing business, headquarters business, shipping business, distribution and service centre business, intellectual property holding business and conducting business as a holding entity, which may include a pure equity holding entity

The Bermuda Economic Substance Act provides that a registered entity that carries on a relevant activity complies with economic substance requirements if (a) it is directed and managed in Bermuda, (b) its core income-generating activities (as may be prescribed) are undertaken in Bermuda with respect to the relevant activity, (c) it maintains adequate physical presence in Bermuda, (d) it has adequate full time employees in Bermuda with suitable qualifications and (e) it incurs adequate operating expenditure in Bermuda in relation to the relevant activity.

A registered entity that carries on a relevant activity is obliged under the Bermuda Economic Substance Act to file a declaration in the prescribed form (the “Declaration”) with the Registrar of Companies (the “Registrar”) on an annual basis.


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The Economic Substance Regulations provide that minimum economic substance requirements shall apply in relation to an entity if the entity is a pure equity holding entity which only holds or manages equity participations, and earns passive income from dividends, distributions, capital gains and other incidental income only. The minimum economic substance requirements include a) compliance with applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 including keeping records of account, books and papers and financial statements and b) submission of an annual economic substance declaration form. Additionally, the Economic Substance Regulations provide that a pure equity holding entity complies with economic substance requirements where it also has adequate employees for holding and managing equity participations, and adequate premises in Bermuda.

If we fail to comply with our obligations under the Bermuda Economic Substance Act or any similar law applicable to us in any other jurisdictions, we could be subject to financial penalties and spontaneous disclosure of information to foreign tax officials in related jurisdictions and may be struck from the register of companies in Bermuda or such other jurisdiction. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On March 12, 2019, Bermuda was placed by the EU on its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes due to an issue with Bermuda's economic substance legislation which was not resolved in time for the EU's deadline. At present, the impact of being included on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes is unclear. While Bermuda has now amended its legislation which the Bermuda Government has stated has addressed this issue and expects to be removed from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions at the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council's next meeting which is scheduled to be in May 2019, there can be no assurance that Bermuda will be removed from such list. If Bermuda is not removed from the list and sanctions or other financial, tax or regulatory measures were applied by European Member States to countries on the list or further economic substance requirements were imposed by Bermuda, our business could be harmed.

Risks Related to Our Company
Incurrence of expenses or liabilities may reduce or eliminate cash distributions
In December 2015, our Board of Directors, or our Board, approved implementing a dividend policy to distribute quarterly dividends to shareholders equal to or close to earnings per share adjusted for non-recurring items. In 2018, we did not declare any dividends. The amount and timing of dividends will depend on our earnings, financial condition, cash position, Bermuda law affecting the payment of distributions and other factors. However, we could incur other expenses or contingent liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available for distribution by us as dividends. In addition, the timing and amount of dividends, if any, is at the discretion of our Board. We cannot guarantee that our Board will declare dividends in the future.
We may not be able to finance our future capital commitments
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain financing at all or on terms acceptable to us. If adequate funds are not available, we may have to reduce expenditures for investments in new and existing projects, which could hinder our growth and prevent us from realizing potential revenues from prior investments which will have a negative impact on our cash flows and results of operations.
We may be required to record a further goodwill impairment loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position
We recorded goodwill of $225.3 million in 2015 in connection with the Merger. We are required to assess goodwill for impairment at least on an annual basis, or more frequently, if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may exist. Our future operating performance may be affected by potential impairment charges related to goodwill. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill is subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. In evaluating the potential for impairment, we make assumptions and estimates regarding revenue projections, growth rates, cash flows, tax rates, and discount rates, which are uncertain and by their nature may vary from actual results and are based on factors that are beyond our control.
In 2017 our assessment of goodwill for impairment resulted in us recording an impairment loss of $112.8 million. As of December 31, 2018, we had $112.5 million of goodwill on our balance sheet. Any further goodwill impairment loss would negatively impact our results of operations and financial position.
The aging of our fleet may result in increased operating costs in the future, which could adversely affect our earnings

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In general, the cost of maintaining a vessel in good operating condition increases with the age of the vessel. As of December 31, 2018, the average age of our tanker fleet, owned, leased or chartered-in by us, is approximately four years. As our fleet ages, we will incur increased costs. Older vessels are typically less fuel efficient and more costly to maintain than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine technology. Cargo insurance rates also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers. Governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which our vessels may engage. As our vessels age, market conditions might not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.
If we do not set aside funds and are unable to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement at the end of a vessel's useful life our revenue will decline, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends
If we do not set aside funds and are unable to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement, we will be unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their remaining useful lives. Our cash flows and income are dependent on the revenues earned by the chartering of our vessels. If we are unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their useful lives, our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends would be adversely affected. Any funds set aside for vessel replacement will not be available for dividends.
Hemen may be able to exercise significant influence over us and may have conflicts of interest with our other shareholders
As of December 31, 2018, Hemen Holding Ltd, or Hemen, a Cyprus holding company, indirectly controlled by trusts established by our Chairman and President, Mr. Fredriksen, for the benefit of his immediate family, owns approximately 48.4% of our outstanding ordinary shares. For so long as Hemen owns a significant percentage of our outstanding ordinary shares, it may be able to exercise significant influence over us and will be able to strongly influence the outcome of shareholder votes on other matters, including the adoption or amendment of provisions in our articles of incorporation or bye-laws and approval of possible mergers, amalgamations, control transactions and other significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, merger, amalgamations, consolidation, takeover or other business combination. This concentration of ownership could also discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which could in turn have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares. Hemen, may not necessarily act in accordance with the best interests of other shareholders. The interests of Hemen may not coincide with the interests of other holders of our ordinary shares. To the extent that conflicts of interests may arise, Hemen may vote in a manner adverse to us or to you or other holders of our securities.
Certain of our directors, executive officers and major shareholders may have interests that are different from the interests of our other shareholders.

Certain of our directors, executive officers and major shareholders may have interests that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of our other shareholders. In particular, Hemen Holding Limited, or Hemen, a company indirectly controlled by trusts established by Mr. Fredriksen, our director, for the benefit of his immediate family, and certain of its affiliates, holds 82,145,703, or 48.4%, of our ordinary shares.

Hemen is also a principal shareholder of a number of other large publicly traded companies involved in various sectors of the shipping and oil services industries, or the Hemen Related Companies. In addition, certain of our directors, including Mr. Lorentzon, Mr. Fredriksen, Mr. O'Shaughnessy and Ms. Laurin, also serve on the boards of one or more of the Hemen Related Companies, including but not limited to, Golden Ocean, Ship Finance International Ltd, or Ship Finance, Seadrill Limited, Archer Limited and Flex LNG Ltd.  There may be real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting Hemen and other Hemen Related Companies whose interests in some circumstances may be adverse to our interests.

We may be unable to attract and retain key management personnel in the tanker industry, which may negatively impact the effectiveness of our management and our results of operation
Our success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities and efforts of our senior executives, and also Mr. Fredriksen, our Chairman and President, for the management of our activities and strategic guidance. While we believe that we have an experienced management team, the loss or unavailability of one or more of our senior executives, and also Mr. Fredriksen, for any extended period of time could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
If labor interruptions are not resolved in a timely manner, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results

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of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash
As of December 31, 2018, we employed approximately 145 people in our offices in Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Norway, Singapore and India. We contract with independent ship managers to manage and operate our vessels, including the crewing of those vessels. If not resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner, industrial action or other labor unrest could prevent or hinder our operations from being carried out as we expect and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.
We may not have adequate insurance to compensate us if our vessels are damaged or lost
We procure insurance for our fleet against those risks that we believe the shipping industry commonly insures. These insurances include hull and machinery insurance; protection and indemnity insurance, which include environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage; freight, demurrage and defence insurance, provides cover to shipowners and operators for legal and other costs incurred in relation to disputes that are uninsured; and war risk insurance. We can give no assurance that we will be adequately insured against all risks and we cannot guarantee that any particular claim will be paid.
Although we do not anticipate any difficulty in having our technical manager initially obtain insurance policies for us, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage for our vessels in the future or renew such policies on the same or commercially reasonable terms, or at all. For example, more stringent environmental regulations have in the past led to increased costs for, and in the future may result in the lack of availability of, protection and indemnity insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution. Any uninsured or underinsured loss could harm our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends. In addition, our insurance may be voidable by the insurers as a result of certain of our actions, such as our vessels failing to maintain certification with applicable maritime self-regulatory organizations. Further, we cannot assure you that our insurance policies will cover all losses that we incur, or that disputes over insurance claims will not arise with our insurance carriers. Any claims covered by insurance would be subject to deductibles, and since it is possible that a large number of claims may be brought, the aggregate amount of these deductibles could be material. In addition, our insurance policies may be subject to limitations and exclusions, which may increase our costs or lower our revenues, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
We may be subject to calls because we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations
We may be subject to increased premium payments, or calls, if the value of our claim records, the claim records of our fleet managers, and/or the claim records of other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive insurance coverage for tort liability (including pollution-related liability) significantly exceed projected claims. In addition, our protection and indemnity associations may not have enough resources to cover claims made against them. Our payment of these calls could result in significant expense to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
Because we are a foreign corporation, you may not have the same rights that a shareholder in a United States corporation may have
We are a Bermuda exempted company. Our memorandum of association and bye-laws and the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, govern our affairs. Investors may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States jurisdiction. Under Bermuda law a director generally owes a fiduciary duty only to the company; not to the company's shareholders. Our shareholders may not have a direct course of action against our directors. In addition, Bermuda law does not provide a mechanism for our shareholders to bring a class action lawsuit under Bermuda law. Further, our bye-laws provide for the indemnification of our directors or officers against any liability arising out of any act or omission except for an act or omission constituting fraud, dishonesty or illegality.
Because our offices and most of our assets are outside the United States, you may not be able to bring suit against us, or enforce a judgment obtained against us in the United States
Our executive offices, administrative activities and assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be more difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, or to enforce both in the United States and outside the United States judgments against us in any action, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.
United States tax authorities could treat the Company as a "passive foreign investment company," which could have adverse

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United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders
A foreign corporation will be treated as a "passive foreign investment company," or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of "passive income" or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation's assets produce or are held for the production of those types of "passive income." For purposes of these tests, "passive income" includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute "passive income." United States shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous United States federal income tax regime with respect to the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.
Based on our current and proposed method of operation, we do not believe that we are, have been or will be a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. In this regard, we intend to treat the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from our time chartering and voyage chartering activities as services income, rather than rental income. Accordingly, we believe that our income from these activities does not constitute "passive income," and the assets that we own and operate in connection with the production of that income do not constitute assets that produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income."
Although there is no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our method of operation there is substantial legal authority supporting our position consisting of case law and United States Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, it should be noted that there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court of law will accept our position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in the nature and extent of our operations.
If the IRS were to find that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year, our United States shareholders will face adverse United States federal income tax consequences. Under the PFIC rules, unless those shareholders make an election available under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code (which election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders, as discussed below under "Taxation-United States Federal Income Tax Considerations"), such shareholders would be liable to pay United States federal income tax at the then prevailing income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of our ordinary shares, as if the excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder's holding period of our ordinary shares. See "Taxation-United States Federal Income Tax Considerations-Passive Foreign Investment Company Status and Significant Tax Consequences" for a more comprehensive discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders if we are treated as a PFIC.
We may not qualify for an exemption under Section 883 of the Code, and may therefore have to pay tax on United States source income, which would reduce our earnings
Under the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States, may be subject to a 4% United States federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
We believe we qualify for this statutory tax exemption for the 2018 taxable year.
However, we may not qualify for exemption under Section 883 in future taxable years. There are factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us to lose the benefit of this tax exemption and become subject to United States federal income tax on our United States source shipping income. For example, if Hemen, who we believe to be a non-qualified shareholder, were to, in combination with other non-qualified shareholders with a 5% or greater interest in our ordinary shares, come to own 50% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares for more than half the days during the taxable year, we would not qualify for exemption under Section 883 for such taxable year. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, there can be no assurances on our tax-exempt status or that of any of our subsidiaries.
If we are not entitled to exemption under Section 883 of the Code for any taxable year, we could be subject during those years to an effective 2% United States federal income tax on gross shipping income derived during such a year that is attributable to the transport of cargoes to or from the United States. The imposition of this tax would have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our shareholders.

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The price of our ordinary shares historically has been volatile
The trading price and volume of our ordinary shares has been and may continue to be subject to large fluctuations. The market price and volume of our ordinary shares may increase or decrease in response to a number of events and factors, including:
•
trends in our industry and the markets in which we operate;
•
changes in the market price of the services we provide;
•
the introduction of new technologies or products by us or by our competitors;
•
changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;
•
operating results that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;
•
announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, financings or capital commitments;
•
changes in laws and regulations;
•
significant changes in the performance of the stock markets in general;
•
general economic and competitive conditions; and
•
changes in key management personnel.

This volatility may adversely affect the prices of our ordinary shares regardless of our operating performance. To the extent that the price of our ordinary shares declines, our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or otherwise use our ordinary shares as consideration will be reduced. These factors may limit our ability to implement our operating and growth plans.
Future sales of our ordinary shares could have an adverse effect on our share price
In order to finance our future operations and growth, we may have to incur substantial additional indebtedness and possibly issue additional equity securities. Future ordinary share issuances, directly or indirectly through convertible or exchangeable securities, options or warrants, will generally dilute the ownership interests of our existing ordinary shareholders, including their relative voting rights and could require substantially more cash to maintain the then existing level, if any, of our dividend payments to our ordinary shareholders, as to which no assurance can be given. Preferred shares, if issued, will generally have a preference on dividend payments, which could prohibit or otherwise reduce our ability to pay dividends to our ordinary shareholders. Our debt will be senior in all respects to our ordinary shareholders, will generally include financial and operating covenants with which we will be required to comply and will include acceleration provisions upon defaults thereunder, including our failure to make any debt service payments, and possibly under other debt.  Because our decision to issue equity securities or incur debt in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions and other matters that are beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the timing, amount or form of our capital raising activities in the future. Such activities could, however, cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline significantly.


ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A.  HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

The Company
 
We are Frontline Ltd., an international shipping company incorporated in Bermuda as an exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Law of 1981 on June 12, 1992 (Company No. EC-17460). On November 30, 2015, the Company and Frontline 2012 completed the Merger in which the Company was the legal aquirer and Frontline 2012 was identified as the accounting acquirer. Frontline 2012 was incorporated in Bermuda on December 12, 2011. Our registered and principal executive offices are located at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda, and our telephone number at that address is +(1) 441 295 6935. Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, and the Oslo Stock Exchange, or the OSE, under the symbol of "FRO".

We are engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of oil and product tankers. We operate through subsidiaries located in Bermuda, India, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Norway, the United Kingdom and Singapore. We are also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of vessels.

Formation of Frontline 2012


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On December 31, 2011, in conjunction with a Board approved restructuring plan to meet the challenges created by a very weak tanker market, the Company completed the sale of 15 wholly-owned special purpose companies, or SPCs, to Frontline 2012. These SPCs owned six VLCCs (Front Kathrine, Front Queen, Front Eminence, Front Endurance, Front Cecilie and Front Signe, one of which was on time charter), four Suezmax tankers (Front Thor, Front Odin, Front Loki and Front Njord) and five VLCC newbuilding contracts. The SPCs were sold at fair market value of $1,120.7 million, which was the average of three independent broker valuations. As part of the transaction, Frontline 2012 assumed the obligation to pay $666.3 million in bank debt and $325.5 million in remaining commitments to the yard under the newbuilding contracts.

Avance Gas

On October 2, 2013, Frontline 2012 entered into an agreement with Stolt-Nielsen Limited, a public company incorporated in Bermuda and listed on the OSE and Sungas Holdings Ltd., a private company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, whereby Frontline 2012 became a 37.5% shareholder in Avance Gas for a purchase consideration of $70.7 million. In October 2013, Frontline 2012 declared the distribution of a dividend consisting of 12.5% of the capital stock of Avance Gas. Following the dividend distribution, the conversion of $33.4 million of shareholder loans to equity and a private placement by Avance Gas of 5,882,352 new shares, Frontline 2012 owned 6,955,975 shares in Avance Gas at December 31, 2013 representing 22.89% of the total number of shares outstanding.

On April 9, 2014, Avance Gas completed an initial public offering, or IPO, of 4,894,262 new ordinary shares. Also on April 9, 2014, Frontline 2012 sold 2,854,985 shares in Avance Gas and following the sale of shares in Avance Gas, Frontline 2012 owned 4,100,990 shares in Avance Gas at December 31, 2014, representing 11.62% of the total number of shares outstanding.

On March 25, 2015, Frontline 2012 paid a stock dividend consisting of 4.1 million Avance Gas shares. All shareholders holding 60.74 shares or more of Frontline 2012, received one share in Avance Gas for every 60.74 shares they held, rounded down to the nearest whole share. The remaining fractional shares were paid in cash. Frontline 2012 retained 112,715 shares and stopped accounting for the investment as an equity method investment at this time as it no longer had significant influence over Avance Gas.

Golden Ocean

On April 3, 2014, Frontline 2012 and Golden Ocean entered into an agreement pursuant to which Frontline 2012 sold all of the shares of 30 SPCs in total, each owning a cash balance and a Capesize newbuilding, to Golden Ocean. The SPCs were sold in April 2014, September 2014 and March 2015. As a result of the sale Golden Ocean issued a total 77.5 million shares to Frontline 2012. Frontline 2012 owned approximately 70% of the total shares outstanding in Golden Ocean as a consequence of these transactions and accounted for it as a business combination achieved in stages with Frontline 2012 selected as the accounting acquirer.

On October 7, 2014, Golden Ocean and Golden Ocean Group Limited, or the Former Golden Ocean, entered into an agreement and plan of merger. The merger was completed on March 31, 2015, at which time Golden Ocean acquired 100% of the Former Golden Ocean's outstanding shares and the name of Knightsbridge Shipping Limited was changed to Golden Ocean Group Limited. Frontline 2012 de-consolidated Golden Ocean as of March 31, 2015, as its shareholding shareholding in Golden Ocean fell to approximately 45% and commenced equity accounting for its investment in Golden Ocean.

In June 2015, Frontline 2012 paid a stock dividend consisting of 75.4 million Golden Ocean shares. All shareholders holding 3.2142 shares or more, received one share in Golden Ocean for every 3.2142 shares held, rounded down to the nearest whole share. The remaining fractional shares were paid in cash. Frontline 2012 held 77.5 million Golden Ocean shares prior to this stock dividend and retained 2.1 million Golden Ocean shares in respect of the treasury shares held by Frontline 2012. This stock dividend triggered discontinued operations presentation of Frontline 2012's results of operations from Golden Ocean.

The Merger

On November 30, 2015, pursuant to a Merger Agreement, dated July, 1 2015, between the Company, Frontline Acquisition Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Frontline 2012, the Company completed the Merger with Frontline 2012. The Merger has been accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting under the provisions of ASC 805, with Frontline 2012 selected as the accounting acquirer under this guidance. Consequently, the Company's historical financial statements (in all subsequent financial statements that reflect the acquisition) will be those of Frontline 2012.

Vessel Acquisitions, Disposals, Redeliveries and Newbuilding Contracts of the Company


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In January 2016, the Company took delivery of two LR2/Aframax tanker newbuildings, Front Ocelot and Front Cheetah.

In March 2016, the Company took delivery of two LR2/Aframax tanker newbuildings, Front Cougar and Front Lynx.

In May 2016, the Company took delivery of the LR2/Aframax tanker newbuilding, Front Leopard.

In May 2016, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 1998-built VLCC Front Vanguard. The charter with Ship Finance terminated in July 2016. Frontline made a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $0.4 million for the termination of the charter.

In June 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its six MR tankers for an aggregate price of $172.5 million to an unaffiliated third party. Five of these vessels were delivered by the Company in August and September 2016 and the final vessel was delivered in November 2016. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $18.2 million in 2016 in respect of these vessels.

In June 2016, the Company took delivery of the LR2/Aframax tanker newbuilding, Front Jaguar.

In June 2016, the Company acquired two VLCC newbuildings under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries at a purchase price of $84.0 million each. The Front Duke was delivered to the Company in September 2016 and the Front Duchess was delivered to the Company in February 2017.

In August 2016, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding, Front Challenger.

In September 2016, the Suezmax newbuilding, Front Crown and the LR2/Aframax newbuilding, Front Altair, were delivered to the Company.

In October 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd in Korea, or STX, to terminate the contracts for four VLCC newbuildings due for delivery in 2017. The contracted price of these vessels was $364.3 million, of which the Company has paid installments of $45.5 million. Following the contract terminations, the Company has been released of any and all obligations relating to the contracts, and has received all installment payments made to STX, less a $0.5 million cancellation fee per vessel. The Company recorded a loss of $2.8 million related to the contract terminations in the third quarter of 2016.

In November 2016, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 1998-built VLCC Front Century upon the sale and delivery of the vessel to a third party. Ship Finance has simultaneously sold the vessel to an unrelated third party. The charter with Ship Finance terminated in March 2017. The Company agreed to a compensation payment to Ship Finance of approximately $4.1 million for the termination of the current charter.

In January 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Classic and the LR2/Aframax newbuildings Front Antares and Front Vega.

In February 2017, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuilding Front Duchess.
 
In February 2017, the Company acquired two VLCC newbuildings under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering at a net purchase price of $77.5 million each. The Front Prince was delivered in September 2017 and the Front Princess was delivered in January 2018.

In March 2017, the lease with Ship Finance for the 1998-built VLCC Front Century was terminated. The Company recorded a gain on this lease termination of $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2017.

In March 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Clipper.

In April 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Crystal and the LR2/Aframax newbuilding Front Sirius.

In April 2017, the Company ordered two VLCC newbuildings to be built at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. The vessels are due for delivery in January and April 2019.

In May 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Coral.


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In May 2017, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charters for the 2000 built VLCC Front Scilla and the 1998 built Suezmax tanker Front Brabant upon the sale and delivery of the vessels by Ship Finance to unrelated third parties. The charters with Ship Finance terminated in the second quarter. Frontline made compensation payments to Ship Finance of $6.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively, for the termination of the charters. The Company recorded a loss on termination, including these termination payments, of $12.4 million.

In June 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Cosmos and the LR2/Aframax newbuilding Front Castor.

In July 2017, the Company took delivery of the Suezmax newbuilding Front Cascade and the VLCC newbuilding Front Earl.

In July 2017, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 1997 built Suezmax Front Ardenne upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charter with Ship Finance terminated in August 2017. Frontline made a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $4.8 million for the termination of the charter. The Company recorded a loss on termination, including this termination payment, of $5.8 million.

In August 2017, the Company took delivery of the LR2/Aframax newbuilding Front Pollux.

In September 2017, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuilding Front Prince and the LR2/Aframax newbuilding Front Capella.

In January 2018, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuildings Front Empire and Front Princess, and the LR2/Aframax newbuilding Front Polaris.

In February 2018, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long-term charter for the 1998-built VLCC Front Circassia upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charter with Ship Finance terminated in February and the charter counter party Frontline Shipping Limited (FSL), a non recourse subsidiary of Frontline, has agreed to make a compensation payment of approximately $8.9 million for the termination of the charter to Ship Finance, which has been recorded as an interest-bearing note payable by FSL. The note is due for repayment in 2021 and carries interest of 7.5% per annum. The termination reduced obligations under capital leases by approximately $20.6 million. The Company recorded a loss on termination, including this termination payment, of $5.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2018.

In July 2018, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long-term charter for the VLCCs Front Page, Front Stratus and Front Serenade upon the sale and delivery of the vessels by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charters with Ship Finance terminated in July, August and September, 2018 respectively and Frontline has agreed to make a compensation payment of approximately $10.125 million for the termination of the three charters to Ship Finance, which has been recorded as interest-bearing notes payable by Frontline. The notes are to be repaid using the same repayment profile as the original leases and carry an interest of 7.5% per annum. The notes will be fully repaid in 2025, 2025 and 2024 respectively. These terminations have reduced obligations under capital leases by approximately $92.1 million. The Company recorded a gain on termination, including the termination payment, of $7.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2018.

In October 2018, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 2001-built VLCC, Front Ariake, upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charter terminated in October and Frontline has agreed to a total compensation payment to Ship Finance of $3.375 million for the termination of the charter, which has been recorded as an interest bearing note payable by Frontline. The note carries interest of 7.5% per annum and will be fully repaid in 2023.

In December 2018, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 2002-built VLCC, Front Falcon, upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charter terminated in December. No compensation is payable on termination of the charter. The terminations of Front Ariake and Front Falcon have reduced obligations under capital leases by approximately $55.2 million. The Company recorded a gain on termination, including the termination payment, of $8.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company's newbuilding program comprised two VLCC newbuildings. In January 2019, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuilding Front Defender. The Company expects to take delivery of the remaining VLCC newbuilding in April 2019.

 
B.  BUSINESS OVERVIEW

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As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s fleet consisted of 61 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 11.6 million DWT:

(i)
46 vessels owned by the Company (12 VLCCs, 16 Suezmax tankers, 18 LR2/Aframax tankers);
(ii)
three VLCCs that are under capital leases;
(iii)
one VLCC that is recorded as an investment in finance lease;
(iv)
two VLCCs chartered in from an unrelated third party; and
(v)
nine vessels that are under the Company’s commercial management (three VLCCs, two Suezmax tankers, two LR2 tankers and two Aframax oil tankers)

Furthermore, the Company has two VLCC newbuildings under construction with a carrying capacity of 0.6 million DWT, of which one was delivered in January 2019 and one is expected to be delivered in April 2019.

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, or LOOP. 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-Overview" for a discussion of the tanker market in 2017 and 2018.

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 AS and Frontline Management (Bermuda) Limited, both wholly-owned subsidiaries, which we refer to collectively as Frontline Management, support us in the implementation of our decisions. Frontline Management is responsible for the commercial management of our ship owning subsidiaries, including chartering and insurance. Each of our vessels is registered under the Bahamas, Liberian, Marshall Islands or Hong Kong flag.

In August 2009, the Company established SeaTeam Management Pte Ltd, or SeaTeam Management, a ship management company in Singapore. SeaTeam Management is a complement to the external ship management companies currently offering services to the Company and is not a change in the Company's outsourcing strategy. However, we would like to strengthen our position towards our service providers to enhance and secure delivery of high quality service at low cost in the future. SeaTeam Management was certified and received its ISM Document of Compliance by Det Norske Veritas on February 3, 2010 and is an approved ship management company. In addition, the Company opened a crewing company in Chennai, India, in January 2010. SeaTeam Management is a 66.56% owned subsidiary of Frontline.

Strategy

Our principal focus is the transportation of crude oil and related refined petroleum cargoes for major oil companies and major 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.

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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, US 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.
Our business strategy is primarily based upon the following principles:
•
emphasizing operational safety and quality maintenance for all of our vessels;
•
complying with all current and proposed environmental regulations;
•
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, or COAs, 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 independent and competing suppliers. The technical management of our vessels is provided by independent ship management companies as well as our subsidiary, SeaTeam Management. Pursuant to management agreements, each of the independent 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, including SeaTeam Management. Both SeaTeam Management and independent ship managers provide crewing for our vessels. Currently, our vessels are crewed with Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Romanian, Indian and Filipino officers and crews, or combinations of these nationalities.
In 2015 the Company incorporated a new subsidiary in Singapore to capitalize on the Asian market for the transportation of crude and petroleum products. As part of this process, responsibility for the management of voyage operations in relation to our fleet of LR2/Aframax vessels was transferred in-house at the start of 2017. In December 2017, the Company transferred management of voyage operations for its fleet of crude oil tankers in-house, split between its offices in Norway, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The decision to bring voyage operations in house is driven by the need to ensure that our customers receive the highest-quality and most efficient service whilst providing time-zone coverage across all of our vessel types.

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.

Customers

Revenues from one customer in the year ended December 31, 2018 individually accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues in the amount of $81.1 million. No customers in the year ended December 31, 2017, accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues. Revenues from two customers in the year ended December 31, 2016 accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues in the amounts of $117.8 million and $78.0 million.

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

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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 particular 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 United States Coast Guard, or 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 the 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.

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by vessels (the “IMO”), 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,” adopted the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, or SOLAS Convention, and the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, or LL Convention. 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 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.

In 2013, the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee, or the MEPC, adopted a resolution amending MARPOL Annex I Condition Assessment Scheme, or 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, or “ESP Code,” which provides for enhanced inspection programs. We may need to make certain financial expenditures to comply with these amendments.


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

27


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, or PCBs) 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, at its 70th session, the MEPC 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, or EGCS. Once the cap becomes effective, ships will be required to obtain bunker delivery notes and International Air Pollution Prevention, or IAPP 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 were adopted and will take effect March 1, 2020. These regulations subject ocean-going vessels to stringent emissions controls, and may cause us to incur substantial costs.

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%. Amended Annex VI establishes procedures for designating new ECAs. Currently, the IMO has designated four ECAs, including specified portions of the Baltic 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 and impose stricter emission controls. 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.

Amended Annex VI also establishes new tiers of stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. At the MEPC meeting held from March to April 2014, amendments to Annex VI were adopted which address the date on which Tier III Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) standards in ECAs will go into effect. Under the amendments, Tier III NOx standards apply to ships that operate in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea ECAs designed for the control of NOx produced by vessels with a marine diesel engine installed and constructed on or after January 1, 2016. Tier III requirements could apply to areas that will be designated for Tier III NOx in the future. At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, the MEPC approved the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for nitrogen oxide for ships built after January 1, 2021. The EPA promulgated equivalent (and in some senses stricter) emissions standards in late 2009. As a result of these designations or similar future designations, we may be required to incur additional operating or other costs.

As determined at the MEPC 70, the new 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 commencing on January 1, 2019. The IMO intends to use such data as the first step in its roadmap (through 2023) for developing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as discussed further below.

As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL made mandatory certain measures relating to energy efficiency for ships. All ships are now required to develop and implement Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans, or SEEMPS, and new ships must be designed in compliance with minimum energy efficiency levels per capacity mile as defined by the Energy Efficiency Design Index, or EEDI. Under these measures, by 2025, all new ships built will be 30% more energy efficient than those built in 2014.

We may incur costs to comply with these revised standards. 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, or 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.

Under Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention, or the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, or the ISM Code, our operations are also subject to environmental standards and requirements. The ISM

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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 our 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 (GBS Standards).

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, or 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) new marking, packing and classification requirements for dangerous goods, and (3) new mandatory training requirements.

The IMO has also adopted the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, or 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 new 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, recent action by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and United States agencies indicate that cybersecurity regulations for the maritime industry are likely to be further developed in the near future in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. For example, cyber-risk management systems must be incorporated by ship-owners and managers by 2021. This might cause companies to create additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures. The impact of such regulations is hard to predict at this time.

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 9, 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. 
 

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On December 4, 2013, the IMO Assembly passed a resolution revising the application dates of BWM Convention so that the dates are triggered by the entry into force date and not the dates originally in the BWM Convention. This, in effect, makes all vessels delivered before the entry into force date “existing vessels” and allows for the installation of ballast water management systems on such vessels at the first International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey following entry into force of the convention. The MEPC adopted updated guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) at MEPC 70. At MEPC 71, the schedule regarding the BWM Convention’s implementation dates was also discussed and amendments were introduced to extend the date existing vessels are subject to certain ballast water standards. 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. Depending on the date of the IOPP renewal survey, existing vessels must comply with the D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most ships, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve 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). Costs of compliance with these regulations may be substantial.

Once mid-ocean ballast exchange ballast water treatment requirements become mandatory under the BWM Convention, the cost of compliance could increase for ocean carriers and may have a material effect on our operations. However, 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, or 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) 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, or 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 is issued for the first time; and subsequent surveys when the anti‑fouling systems are altered or replaced. We have obtained Anti‑fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti‑fouling Convention.

Compliance Enforcement


30


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 have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code by applicable deadlines will be prohibited 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, or 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, or 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 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:

(i)    injury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;
(ii)    injury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;
(iv)    loss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;
(iii)    net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property, or natural resources;
(v)    lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property or natural resources; and
(vi)    net 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. Effective December 21, 2015, the USCG adjusted the 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 $2,200 per gross ton or $18,796,800 (subject to periodic adjustment for inflation).  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 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 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 refused 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

31


may satisfy their financial responsibility obligations by providing a proof of insurance, a surety bond, qualification as a self-insurer or a guarantee. We plan to comply with the USCG’s financial responsibility regulations by providing applicable certificates of financial responsibility.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in additional regulatory initiatives or statutes, including higher liability caps under OPA, new regulations regarding offshore oil and gas drilling, and a pilot inspection program for offshore facilities. However, several of these initiatives and regulations have been or may be revised. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s, or BSEE, revised Production Safety Systems Rule, or PSSR, effective December 27, 2018, modified and relaxed certain environmental and safety protections under the 2016 PSSR. Additionally, the BSEE released proposed changes to the Well Control Rule, which could roll back certain reforms regarding the safety of drilling operations, and the U.S. President proposed leasing new sections of U.S. waters to oil and gas companies for offshore drilling, expanding the U.S. waters that are available for such activity over the next five years. The effects of these proposals are currently unknown. Compliance with any new requirements of OPA and future legislation or regulations applicable to the operation of our vessels could impact the cost of our operations and adversely affect our business.

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.

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), or CAA requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. The CAA also requires states to draft State Implementation Plans, or 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.

The U.S. Clean Water Act, or 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. In 2015, the EPA expanded the definition of “waters of the United States” , or WOTUS, thereby expanding federal authority under the CWA. Following litigation on the revised WOTUS rule, in December 2018, the EPA and Department of the Army proposed a revised, limited definition of “waters of the United States.” The effect of this proposal on U.S. environmental regulations is still unknown.

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 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018 and will replace the 2013 Vessel General Permit, or VGP program (which authorizes discharges incidental to operations of commercial vessels and contains numeric ballast water discharge limits for most vessels to reduce the risk of invasive species in U.S. waters, stringent requirements for exhaust gas scrubbers, and requirements for the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants) and current Coast Guard ballast water management regulations adopted under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act, or NISA, such as mid-ocean ballast exchange programs and installation of approved USCG technology for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks bound for U.S. ports or entering U.S. waters.  VIDA establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges under Clean Water Act (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

32


regulations within two years of EPA’s promulgation of standards.  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, or 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.

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 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 starting on January 1, 2018.

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 EU ports.

International Labour Organization

The International Labor Organization, or the ILO, is a specialized agency of the UN that has adopted the Maritime Labor Convention 2006, or 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 above 500 gross tons in international trade. We believe that all our vessels are in substantial compliance with and are certified to meet MLC 2006.

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. On June 1, 2017, the U.S. President announced that the United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The timing and effect of such action has yet to be determined, but the Paris Agreement provides for a four-year exit process.

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 reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including (1) decreasing the carbon intensity from ships through implementation of further phases of the EEDI for new ships; (2) reducing carbon dioxide emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050, compared to 2008; and (3) reducing the total annual greenhouse emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 while pursuing efforts towards phasing them out entirely. The initial strategy notes that technological innovation, alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieve the overall ambition. These regulations could cause us to incur additional substantial expenses.

33



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. Starting in January 2018, large ships calling at EU ports are required to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information.

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 U.S. President signed an executive order to review and possibly eliminate the EPA’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA or individual U.S. states could enact environmental regulations that would 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.


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, or 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.

Similarly, Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention imposes detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities and mandates compliance with the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code, or 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, or 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 various requirements, some of which are found in the SOLAS Convention, include, for example, on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship’s identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities on shore; the development of vessel security plans; ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel’s hull; a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel's history including the name of the ship, the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship's identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

The USCG regulations, 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, and the Gulf of Guinea. 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 BMP45 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, or the Rules, which apply to

34


oil tankers and bulk carriers constructed on or after July 1, 2015. The Rules attempt to create a level of consistency between IACS Societies. Our vessels are currently classed with DNV GL, Lloyd’s Register and American Bureau of Shipping.

A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys, drydockings 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 also required to be drydocked every 30 to 36 months for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel. If any vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, drydocking 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, or 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 $1.0 billion per vessel per incident and is provided by mutual protection and indemnity associations. Each of the vessels currently in our fleet is entered in a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of Protection & Indemnity Clubs. The 13 protection and indemnity associations that comprise the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world's commercial tonnage and have entered into a pooling agreement to re-insure each association's liabilities. The International Group’s website states that the Pool provides a mechanism for sharing all claims in excess of US$ 10 million up to, currently, approximately US$ 8.2 billion. For the 2016/17 policy year, the International Group has maintained a three layer GXL insurance program, together with an additional Collective Overspill layer, which combine to provide just over $3 billion of commercial reinsurance. 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 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, 2018: 
Vessel
 
Built
 
Approximate Dwt.
 
Flag
 
Type of Employment(1)
Tonnage Owned
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

35


VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Kathrine
 
2009
 
297,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Queen
 
2009
 
297,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Eminence
 
2009
 
321,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Endurance
 
2009
 
321,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Cecilie
 
2010
 
297,000
 
HK
 
Spot market
Front Signe
 
2010
 
297,000
 
HK
 
Spot market
Front Duke
 
2016
 
299,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Duchess
 
2017
 
299,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Earl
 
2017
 
300,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Prince
 
2017
 
300,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Empire
 
2018
 
300,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Princess
 
2018
 
300,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suezmax Tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Ull
 
2014
 
157,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Idun
 
2015
 
157,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Thor
 
2010
 
156,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Loki
 
2010
 
156,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Odin
 
2010
 
156,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Njord
 
2010
 
156,000
 
HK
 
Spot market
Front Balder
 
2009
 
156,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Brage
 
2011
 
156,000
 
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
 
Market related time charter
Front Cascade
 
2017
 
157,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LR2/Aframax Tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Lion(2)
 
2014
 
115,000
 
MI
 
Time charter
Front Puma
 
2015
 
115,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Panther
 
2015
 
115,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Tiger
 
2015
 
115,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Ocelot
 
2016
 
110,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Cheetah
 
2016
 
113,000
 
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
Front Antares
 
2017
 
110,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Vega
 
2017
 
111,000
 
MI
 
Spot market

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Front Sirius
 
2017
 
111,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Castor
 
2017
 
110,000
 
MI
 
Market related time charter
Front Pollux
 
2017
 
110,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Capella
 
2017
 
110,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Polaris
 
2018
 
111,000
 
MI
 
Spot market

Tonnage chartered-in from Ship Finance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Hakata
 
2002
 
298,000
 
BA
 
Spot market
Front Force
 
2004
 
305,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
Front Energy
 
2004
 
305,000
 
MI
 
Spot market
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tonnage chartered-in from third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FPMC C Melody
 
2011
 
297,000
 
LIB
 
Spot market
FMPC C Noble
 
2012
 
297,000
 
LIB
 
Spot market

1.
Time Charter includes those contracts with durations in excess of six months.
2.
This vessel commenced a time charter in August 2015 which was extended with the earliest possible re-delivery in January 2020.

Our fleet chartered-in from Ship Finance is contracted to us under leasing arrangements with remaining fixed terms of between six to eight years.

Key to Flags:

BA – Bahamas, LIB - Liberia, MI – Marshall Islands, HK – Hong Kong.

Other than our interests in the vessels described above, we do not own any material physical properties. We lease office space in Hamilton, Bermuda from an unaffiliated third party. Frontline Management AS leases office space, at market rates, in Oslo, Norway from Seatankers Management Norway AS (formerly Bryggegata AS), a company indirectly affiliated with Hemen, our principal shareholder. We also have other leased properties, which are not considered material.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

A. OPERATING RESULTS

Overview

As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s fleet consisted of 61 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 11.6 million DWT:

(i)
46 vessels owned by the Company (12 VLCCs, 16 Suezmax tankers, 18 LR2/Aframax tankers);
(ii)
three VLCCs that are under capital leases;
(iii)
one VLCC that is recorded as an investment in finance lease;
(iv)
two VLCCs chartered in from an unrelated third party;
(v)
nine vessels that are under the Company’s commercial management (three VLCCs, two Suezmax tankers, two LR2 tankers and two Aframax oil tankers)


37


Furthermore, the Company has two VLCC newbuildings under construction with a carrying capacity of 0.6 million DWT, of which one was delivered in January 2019 and one is expected to be delivered in April 2019.

A full fleet list is provided in Item 4.D. "Information on the Company" showing the vessels that we own, lease and charter-in as of December 31, 2018. See Note 29 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for changes in our vessels subsequent to December 31, 2018.

Fleet Changes

Refer to Item 4. for discussion on acquisitions and disposals of vessels. A summary of the changes in the vessels that we own, lease and charter-in for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 is summarized in the table below.
 
 
2018

 
2017

 
2016

VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 
At start of period
 
20

 
21

 
20

Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries
 
2

 
3

 
1

Disposal/lease termination
 
(6
)
 
(2
)
 
(1
)
Chartered-in
 
1

 
(2
)
 
1

At end of period
 
17

 
20

 
21

Suezmax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
At start of period
 
16

 
14

 
12

Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries
 
—

 
6

 
2

Disposal/lease termination
 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

Chartered-in
 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

At end of period
 
16

 
16

 
14

LR2/Aframax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
At start of period
 
17

 
11

 
7

Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries
 
1

 
6

 
7

Chartered-in
 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
At end of period
 
18

 
17

 
11

MR tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
At start of period
 
—

 
3

 
10

Disposal/lease termination
 
—

 
—

 
(6
)
Chartered-in
 
—

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
At end of period
 
—

 
—

 
3

Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
At start of period
 
53

 
49

 
49

Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries
 
3

 
15

 
10

Disposal/lease termination
 
(6
)
 
(4
)
 
(7
)
Chartered-in
 
1

 
(7
)
 
(3
)
At end of period
 
51

 
53

 
49


38


Summary of Fleet Employment

As discussed below, our vessels are operated under time charters and voyage charters.
 
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
Number of vessels

 
Percentage of fleet

 
Number of vessels

 
Percentage of fleet

 
Number of vessels

 
Percentage
of fleet

VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spot
17

 
100
%
 
20

 
100
%
 
17

 
81
%
Time charter
—

 
—

 
—

 
—
%
 
4

 
19
%
 
17

 
100
%
 
20

 
100
%
 
21

 
100
%
Suezmax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spot
15

 
94
%
 
15

 
94
%
 
11

 
79
%
Time charter
—

 
—
%
 
1

 
6
%
 
3

 
21
%
Market related time charter
1

 
6
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
16

 
100
%
 
16

 
100
%
 
14

 
100
%
LR2/Aframax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spot
16

 
89
%
 
12

 
71
%
 
5

 
45
%
Time charter
1

 
6
%
 
5

 
29
%
 
6

 
55
%
Market related time charter
1

 
6
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
18

 
100
%
 
17

 
100
%
 
11

 
100
%
MR tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spot
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
100
%
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
100
%
Total fleet
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spot
48

 
94
%
 
47

 
89
%
 
36

 
73
%
Market related time charter
2

 
4
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—
%
Time charter
1

 
2
%
 
6

 
11
%
 
13

 
27
%
 
51

 
100
%
 
53

 
100
%
 
49

 
100
%

Market Overview and Trend Information

The statistical data provided in this section has been taken from the International Energy Agency, or IEA, and Clarksons Research, an independent third party maritime research company. The figures quoted below are estimates and may vary from estimates provided by other research services.

The past two years have been characterized by large growth in the global crude oil tanker fleet, and the growth is expected to continue in 2019.  65 VLCC’s are scheduled to be delivered in 2019, although some of these are expected to be pushed to 2020, and further contracting has decreased from the levels seen in 2018.  This compares to 39 VLCCs delivered in 2018 and 50 in 2017.  There was an increase in scrapping in 2018, with 32 VLCCs removed from the fleet. The VLCC fleet totalled 740 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 and the Suezmax fleet totalled 565 vessels. The LR2 product tanker fleet totalled 352 vessels.

The estimated average spot charter rate for a VLCC trading on a standard ‘TD3C’ voyage between the Middle East and China in 2018 was an estimated daily TCE rate of $18,800. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $16,600 in 2017. The average rate for a Suezmax tanker trading on a standard ‘TD20’ voyage between West Africa and Rotterdam in 2018 was an estimated daily TCE rate of $11,000. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $12,100 in 2017. The average rate for an LR2 product tanker trading on a standard ‘TC1’ voyage between the Middle East and Japan was an estimated daily TCE rate of $9,000 in 2018. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $9,100 in 2017.

Crude oil demand and the world economy remains strong. The IEA, estimates that world oil demand in 2019 will be 100.6 million barrels per day (mb/d), representing an increase of 1.4 % or 1.4 mb/d from 2018.

39



In 2019, global, non-OPEC, oil supply is projected to grow by 2.9%. The oil supply growth primarily comes from the Atlantic Basin, and in particular USA, whilst there still is robust demand growth in Asia, which is positive for tonne-mile development. The recent prolonged period of oil inventory draws, negatively affecting the tanker market, is projected to come to an end.

The tanker fleet in general is also facing important regulatory changes as MARPOL bunker fuel regulations come to effect January 2020 which is estimated to lead to increased market volatility and higher demand for freight going forward.


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Management believes that the following accounting policies are the most critical in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results as they require a higher degree of judgment in their application resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. See Note 2 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for details of all of our material accounting policies.

These policies may need to be revised in the future in the event that changes to our business occur.

Goodwill and impairment of goodwill

We allocate the cost of acquired companies to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired, with the remaining amount being classified as goodwill. Our future operating performance may be affected by potential impairment charges related to goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Impairment of goodwill in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities is determined using a two-step approach, initially based on a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets; if the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than the book value of its net assets, then the second step compares the implied fair value of the Company's goodwill with its carrying value to measure the amount of the impairment. The Company has one reporting unit for the purpose of assessing potential goodwill impairment and has selected September 30 as its annual goodwill impairment testing date. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets is highly subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis.

Our test for potential goodwill impairment is a two-step approach. We estimate the fair value of the Company based on its market capitalization plus a control premium and compare this to the carrying value of its net assets. Control premium assumptions require judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts. If the carrying value of the Company's net assets exceeds its estimated fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment analysis requires us to measure the amount of the impairment loss. An impairment loss is calculated by comparing the implied fair value of the goodwill to its carrying amount. The implied fair value of goodwill is calculated in the same manner as the goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the Company determines the fair value of assets and liabilities of the reporting unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets excluding goodwill) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. The excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the amounts determined for its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.

The Company's market capitalization at September 30, 2018 was $986.6 million (based on a share price of $5.81) compared to its carrying value of approximately $1,138.4 million. The Company reviewed merger transactions in North America with values of over $25.0 million in the nine months ended to September 30, 2018, global deals between public companies of more than $100.0 million in the last three years and global marine transport sector transactions of more than $100.0 million in the last five years and observed average control premiums (based on the one month average share price before the bid) of between 28% and 34%. Based on a range of 28% to 34%, the average control premium of 34% for global marine transport sector deals, and using 30% as the mid point in the range, the fair value of the Company was calculated as $1,282.6 million. As the fair value of the Company was above the carrying value, the Company concluded that it was not required to complete the second step of the goodwill impairment analysis and there was no requirement for an impairment.

At December 31, 2018 the Company's share price had fallen by $0.28 per share, or 5% from its September 30, 2018 share price and as such the Company exercised the unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment and completed the first step of the goodwill impairment analysis. The Company's market capitalization at December 31, 2018 was $939 million (based on a share

40


price of $5.53) and the Company has calculated the fair value of the Company to be $1,221 million, based on a control premium of 30%, compared to its carrying value of approximately $1,164 million. As the fair value of the Company was above the carrying value, the Company concluded that it was not required to complete the second step of the goodwill impairment analysis and there was no requirement for an impairment.

If our stock price declines, or if our control premium declines, without a corresponding decline in the fair value of underlying assets and liabilities the implied value of goodwill might decrease even further which could result in impairments of some or all of the $112.5 million of goodwill. A share price of $5.27 per share at December 31, 2018 would have required the Company to complete the second step of the goodwill impairment test. A control premium of 24% at December 31, 2018 would have required the Company to complete the second step of the goodwill impairment test. Control premium assumptions require judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts. The Company believes that the control premium may be attributable, in part or in whole, to the expected synergies from combining the operations of the Company and an acquirer, particularly in respect of the benefits of operating an enlarged oil tanker fleet and assembled workforce as well as being able to take advantage of an expected reduction in costs from an expansion in scale. Events or circumstances may occur that could negatively impact our stock price, including changes in our anticipated revenues and profits and our ability to execute on our strategies. An impairment could have a material effect on our consolidated balance sheet and results of operations.


Revenue and expense recognition

Our shipping revenues are primarily generated from time charters and voyage charters. In a time charter voyage, the vessel is hired by the charterer for a specified period of time in exchange for consideration which is based on a daily hire rate. Generally, the charterer has the discretion over the ports visited, shipping routes and vessel speed. The contract/charter party generally provides typical warranties regarding the speed and performance of the vessel. The charter party generally has some owner protective restrictions such that the vessel is sent only to safe ports by the charterer and carries only lawful or non hazardous cargo. In a time charter contract, we are responsible for all the costs incurred for running the vessel such as crew costs, vessel insurance, repairs and maintenance and lubes. The charterer bears the voyage related costs such as bunker expenses, port charges, canal tolls during the hire period. The performance obligations in a time charter contract are satisfied over term of the contract beginning when the vessel is delivered to the charterer until it is redelivered back to us. The charterer generally pays the charter hire in advance of the upcoming contract period. Time charter contracts, bareboat charter contracts and the lease component in those voyage charter contracts which we consider to be leases continue to be accounted for under ASC 840 leases and revenues are recorded over the term of the charter as a service is provided. When a time charter contract is linked to an index, we recognize revenue for the applicable period based on the actual index for that period.

In a voyage charter contract, the charterer hires the vessel to transport a specific agreed-upon cargo for a single voyage. The consideration in such a contract is determined on the basis of a freight rate per metric ton of cargo carried or occasionally on a lump sum basis. The charterer is responsible for any short loading of cargo or "dead" freight. The voyage charter party generally has standard payment terms with freight paid on completion of discharge. The voyage charter party generally has a "demurrage" clause. As per this clause, the charterer reimburses us for any potential delays exceeding the allowed laytime as per the charter party clause at the ports visited, which is recorded as voyage revenue, as such, demurrage is considered variable consideration under the contract. Estimates and judgments are required in ascertaining the most likely outcome of a particular voyage and actual outcomes may differ from estimates. Such estimate is reviewed and updated over the term of the voyage charter contract. In a voyage charter contract, the performance obligations begin to be satisfied once the vessel begins loading the cargo.

Effective from January 1, 2018, we adopted the new accounting standard ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers using the modified retrospective method. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Voyage and other contracts not qualifying as leases are accounted for under the provisions of ASC 606.
We have determined that our voyage charter contracts that qualify for accounting under ASC 606 consist of a single performance obligation of transporting the cargo within a specified time period. Therefore, the performance obligation is met evenly as the voyage progresses, and the revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the voyage days from the commencement of loading to completion of discharge. Contract assets with regards to voyage revenues are reported as "Voyages in progress" as the performance obligation is satisfied over time. Voyage revenues typically become billable and due for payment on completion of the voyage and discharge of the cargo, at which point the receivable is recognized as "Trade accounts receivable, net".


41


In a voyage contract, the Company bears all voyage related costs such as fuel costs, port charges and canal tolls. To recognize costs incurred to fulfill a contract as an asset, the following criteria shall be met: (i) the costs relate directly to the contract, (ii) the costs generate or enhance resources of the entity that will be used in satisfying performance obligations in the future and (iii) the costs are expected to be recovered. The costs incurred during the period prior to commencement of loading the cargo, primarily bunkers, are deferred as they represent setup costs and recorded as a current asset and are subsequently amortized on a straight-line basis as we satisfy the performance obligations under the contract. Costs incurred to obtain a contract, such as commissions, are also deferred and expensed over the same period.

For our vessels operating under revenue sharing agreements, or in pools, revenues and voyage expenses are pooled and allocated to each pool’s participants on a time charter equivalent income, or TCE, basis in accordance with an agreed-upon formula. Revenues generated through revenue sharing agreements are presented gross when we are considered the principal under the charter parties with the net income allocated under the revenue sharing agreement presented as other operating income, net. For revenue sharing agreements that meet the definition of a lease, we account for such contracts as variable rate operating leases and recognize revenue for the applicable period based on the actual net revenue distributed by the pool.

Other income primarily comprises income earned from the commercial and technical management of related party and third party vessels and newbuilding supervision fees derived from related parties and third parties. Other revenues are recognized on an accruals basis as the services are provided and performance obligations are met.

Since we have used the modified retrospective method for adopting ASC 606, the prior years have not been restated, therefore the provisions of ASC 605 remain applicable for these periods. Under ASC 605, the following critical accounting policies were applicable:

Revenues and expenses are recognized on the accruals basis. Revenues are generated from voyage charters, time charters and a finance lease. Voyage revenues are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage and, therefore, are allocated between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each period. Voyage expenses are recognized as incurred. Probable losses on voyages are provided for in full at the time such losses can be estimated. Time charter revenues are recorded over the term of the charter as a service is provided. When the time charter is based on an index, the Company recognizes revenue when the index has been determined. The Company uses a discharge-to-discharge basis in determining percentage of completion for all spot voyages and voyages servicing contracts of affreightment whereby it recognizes revenue ratably from when product is discharged (unloaded) at the end of one voyage to when it is discharged after the next voyage. However, the Company does not recognize revenue if a charter has not been contractually committed to by a customer and the Company, even if the vessel has discharged its cargo and is sailing to the anticipated load port on its next voyage.

Revenues and voyage expenses of the vessels operating in pool arrangements are pooled and the resulting net pool revenues, calculated on a time charter equivalent basis, are allocated to the pool participants according to an agreed formula on the basis of the number of days a vessel operates in the pool. The pool participants are responsible for paying voyage expenses. Adjustments between the pool participants are settled on a quarterly basis. Pool revenues are reported as voyage charter revenues for all periods presented.

Rental payments from the Company's sales-type lease are allocated between lease service revenue, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

Vessels and equipment

The cost of the vessels less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the vessels' estimated remaining economic useful lives. The estimated economic useful life of each of the Company's vessels is 25 years. Other equipment is depreciated over its estimated remaining useful life, which approximates five years. The residual value for owned vessels is calculated by multiplying the lightweight tonnage of the vessel by the market price of scrap per tonne. The market price of scrap per tonne is calculated as the 10 year average, up to the date of delivery of the vessel, across the three main recycling markets (Far East, Indian sub-continent and Bangladesh). Residual values are reviewed annually.


42


Vessel Impairment

The carrying values of the Company's vessels may not represent their fair market value at any point in time since the market prices of second-hand vessels tend to fluctuate with changes in charter rates and the cost of newbuildings. Historically, both charter rates and vessel values tend to be cyclical. The carrying amounts of vessels held and used by the Company and newbuildings are reviewed for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a particular vessel may not be fully recoverable. Such indicators may include depressed spot rates and depressed second hand tanker values. In such instances, an impairment charge would be recognized if the estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the vessel and its eventual disposition is less than the vessel's carrying amount. The impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. Fair values may be estimated using discounted cash flows or through estimating the amount to be received if a vessel were to be sold in an arms length transaction. This assessment is made at the individual vessel level as separately identifiable cash flow information for each vessel is available.

In developing estimates of future cash flows, the Company must make assumptions about future performance, with significant assumptions being related to charter rates, ship operating expenses, utilization, drydocking requirements, residual value, the estimated remaining useful lives of the vessels and the probability of lease terminations for vessels held under capital lease. These assumptions are based on historical trends as well as future expectations. Specifically, in estimating future charter rates, management takes into consideration rates currently in effect for existing time charters and estimated daily time charter equivalent rates for each vessel class for the unfixed days over the estimated remaining lives of each of the vessels. The estimated daily time charter equivalent rates used for unfixed days are based on a combination of (i) internally developed forecasts, and (ii) the trailing seven year historical average rates, based on quarterly average rates published by an independent third party maritime research service. Recognizing that the transportation of crude oil is cyclical and subject to significant volatility based on factors beyond the Company's control, management believes the use of estimates based on the combination of internally forecast rates and seven year historical average rates calculated as of the reporting date to be reasonable.

Estimated outflows for operating expenses and drydocking requirements are based on historical and budgeted costs and are adjusted for assumed inflation. Finally, utilization is based on historical levels achieved and estimates of a residual value are consistent with the pattern of scrap rates used in management's evaluation of salvage value.

The more significant factors that could impact management's assumptions regarding time charter equivalent rates include (i) loss or reduction in business from significant customers, (ii) unanticipated changes in demand for transportation of crude oil and oil products, (iii) changes in production of or demand for oil, generally or in particular regions, (iv) greater than anticipated levels of tanker newbuilding orders or lower than anticipated levels of tanker scrappings, and (v) changes in rules and regulations applicable to the tanker industry, including legislation adopted by international organizations such as IMO and the EU or by individual countries. Although management believes that the assumptions used to evaluate potential impairment are reasonable and appropriate at the time they were made, such assumptions are highly subjective and likely to change, possibly materially, in the future. Tanker charter rates are volatile and can experience long periods at depressed levels. There can be no assurance as to whether charter rates and vessel values will improve by a significant degree. Future assessments of vessel impairment would be adversely affected by reductions in vessel values and charter rates.

In May 2016, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 1998-built VLCC Front Vanguard. The charter was terminated in July 2016. The Company agreed to a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $0.3 million for the termination of the charter and recorded an impairment loss of $7.3 million in 2016 and recorded a gain on lease termination of $0.1 million. In the three months ended September, 2016, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $8.9 million in respect of three vessels leased in from Ship Finance - the 1997-built Front Ardenne, the 1998-built Front Brabant and the 1998-built Front Century - based on a 25% probability assumption of terminating the vessel's lease before the next dry dock. This impairment loss included $5.6 million in respect of Front Century.

In June 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its six MR tankers for an aggregate price of $172.5 million to an unaffiliated third party. Five of these vessels were delivered by the Company in August and September 2016 and the final vessel was delivered in November 2016. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $18.2 million in 2016 in respect of these vessels.

In November 2016, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for Front Century upon the sale and delivery of the vessel to a third party. The charter was terminated in March 2017. The Company has agreed a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $4.1 million for the termination of the charter and recorded an impairment loss of $27.3 million in the three months ended December 31, 2016 based on a 100% probability assumption of terminating the vessel's lease before the next dry dock. The Company recorded a gain on lease termination of $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2017.


43


In March 2017 the Company recorded an impairment loss of $21.2 million with respect to four vessels leased in from Ship Finance, the 2000 built VLCC Front Scilla, 1998 built Suezmax tanker Front Brabant, the 1997 built Suezmax Front Ardenne and the 1999 built VLCC Front Circassia based on a 25% probability assumption of terminating the vessel leases before their next dry dock.

In May 2017, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charters for the 2000 built VLCC Front Scilla and the 1998 built Suezmax tanker Front Brabant upon the sale and delivery of the vessels by Ship Finance to unrelated third parties. The charters with Ship Finance terminated in the second quarter. Frontline agreed to make compensation payments to Ship Finance of $6.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively, for the termination of the charters. The Company recorded a loss on termination, including these termination payments, of $12.4 million in the second quarter.

In July 2017, the Company agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter for the 1997 built Suezmax Front Ardenne upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by Ship Finance to an unrelated third party. The charter with Ship Finance terminated in August 2017. Frontline agreed to make compensation payments to Ship Finance of $4.8 million for the termination of the charter. The Company recorded a loss on termination, including this termination payment, of $5.8 million in the third quarter.

In December 2017, the Company has recognized an impairment loss of $142.9 million on the remaining 9 VLCCs chartered in from Ship Finance. The leasehold interest in these capital leased assets was recorded at fair value at the time of the Merger based on the discounted value of the expected cash flows from the vessels. Based on the deterioration in forecast rates since the Merger, and the reduced remaining useful economic life of the vessels as they approach the end of their leases, the Company has recognized an impairment loss on all of these leased vessels, calculated as the difference between the discounted value of the expected cash flows from the vessels as at December 31, 2017 and the carrying value of the vessels under capital lease at that time.

Our Fleet – Comparison of Possible Excess of Carrying Value Over Estimated Charter-Free Market Value of Certain Vessels
 
In "Critical Accounting Policies – Vessel Impairment" we discuss our policy for impairing the carrying values of our vessels. During the past few years, the market values of vessels have experienced particular volatility, with substantial declines in many vessel classes. As a result, the charter-free market value, or basic market value, of certain of our vessels may have declined below those vessels' carrying value, even though we did not impair those vessels' carrying value under our accounting impairment policy, due to our belief that future undiscounted cash flows expected to be earned by such vessels over their operating lives would exceed such vessels' carrying amounts.

Our estimates of basic market value assume that our vessels are all in good and seaworthy condition without need for repair and, if inspected, would be certified in class without notations of any kind. Our estimates are based on the estimated market values for our vessels that we have received from independent ship brokers and are inherently uncertain. In addition, vessel values are highly volatile; as such, our estimates may not be indicative of the current or future basic market value of our vessels or prices that we could achieve if we were to sell them.

The table set forth below indicates the carrying value of each of our owned vessels as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and the date of this annual report, we were not holding any of the vessels listed in the table below as held for sale. We believe that the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be earned by those vessels, which have experienced a decline in charter-free market value below such vessels' carrying value, over their operating lives would exceed such vessels' carrying values as of December 31, 2018, and accordingly, have not recorded an impairment charge. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying Value at Dec 31
 
 
 
 
Built
 
 
Approximate
Dwt.
 
2018

 
2017

VLCCs
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Front Kathrine*
 
2009
 
297,000
 
56.2

 
59.0

Front Queen*
 
2009
 
297,000
 
56.5

 
59.3

Front Eminence*
 
2009
 
321,000
 
57.3

 
60.1

Front Endurance*
 
2009
 
321,000
 
57.2

 
60.0

Front Cecilie*
 
2010
 
297,000
 
60.1

 
62.9

Front Signe*
 
2010
 
297,000
 
60.2

 
63.0

Front Duke
 
2016
 
299,000
 
77.8

 
80.5


44


Front Duchess
 
2017
 
299,000
 
79.1

 
81.8

Front Earl*
 
2017
 
300,000
 
94.9

 
98.3

Front Prince
 
2017
 
300,000
 
74.3

 
78.1

Front Empire*
 
2018
 
300,000
 
97.1

 
—

Front Princess
 
2018
 
300,000
 
77.9

 
—

Suezmax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Ull*
 
2014
 
157,000
 
56.9

 
59.2

Front Idun*
 
2015
 
157,000
 
58.8

 
61.2

Front Thor*
 
2010
 
156,000
 
42.6

 
44.7

Front Loki*
 
2010
 
156,000
 
42.7

 
44.8

Front Odin*
 
2010
 
156,000
 
42.9

 
45.0

Front Njord*
 
2010
 
156,000
 
43.1

 
45.1

Front Balder*
 
2009
 
156,000
 
41.0

 
43.0

Front Brage*
 
2011
 
156,000
 
44.0

 
46.0

Front Crown*
 
2016
 
157,000
 
55.6

 
57.6

Front Challenger*
 
2016
 
157,000
 
55.5

 
57.5

Front Classic
 
2017
 
157,000
 
56.4

 
58.4

Front Clipper
 
2017
 
157,000
 
56.6

 
58.6

Front Crystal*
 
2017
 
157,000
 
59.2

 
61.3

Front Coral*
 
2017
 
158,000
 
60.6

 
62.8

Front Cosmos*
 
2017
 
158,000
 
58.5

 
60.5

Front Cascade*
 
2017
 
157,000
 
58.7

 
60.7

LR2/Aframax tankers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Front Lion*
 
 
2014
 
115,000
 
38.7

 
40.2

Front Puma*
 
2015
 
115,000
 
39.0

 
40.5

Front Panther 
 
2015
 
115,000
 
38.8

 
40.3

Front Tiger 
 
2015
 
115,000
 
38.9

 
40.3

Front Ocelot
 
2016
 
110,000
 
42.2

 
43.7

Front Cheetah 
 
2016
 
113,000
 
41.3

 
42.8

Front Lynx
 
2016
 
110,000
 
41.6

 
43.1

Front Cougar
 
2016
 
110,000
 
41.7

 
43.2

Front Leopard
 
2016
 
110,000
 
42.1

 
43.6

Front Jaguar
 
2016
 
110,000
 
42.8

 
44.3

Front Altair*
 
2016
 
110,000
 
47.3

 
49.1

Front Antares*
 
2017
 
110,000
 
47.8

 
49.5

Front Vega*
 
2017
 
111,000
 
47.7

 
49.5

Front Sirius*
 
2017
 
111,000
 
48.2

 
49.9

Front Castor*
 
2017
 
110,000
 
49.4

 
51.2

Front Pollux*
 
2017
 
110,000
 
48.5

 
50.2

Front Capella*
 
2017
 
110,000
 
48.8

 
50.4

Front Polaris*
 
2018
 
111,000
 
49.5

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
2,476.0

 
2,341.2


* We believe the basic charter-free market value at December 31, 2018 for each vessel marked with an asterisk in the table above is lower than the vessel's carrying value. We believe that the aggregate carrying value of these vessels exceeds their aggregate basic charter-free market value by approximately $185.0 million. We refer you to the risk factor entitled "Because the market value of our vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when we sell vessels which may adversely affect our earnings, or could cause us to incur impairment charges".

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Factors Affecting our Results

The principal factors which affect the results of our continuing operations and financial position include:

•
the earnings of our vessels;
•
other operating gains and losses;
•
contingent rental income or expense;
•
vessel operating expenses;
•
administrative income and expenses;
•
impairment losses on vessels and vessels held under capital lease;
•
impairment losses on goodwill;
•
depreciation;
•
interest expense;
•
impairment losses and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities;
•
gains and losses on derivatives; and
•
share of results from associated company and gain on equity interest.

We have derived our earnings from time charters, voyage charters, pool arrangements and a finance lease. As of December 31, 2018, 50 of our 51 vessels, which are owned or leased in by us, were employed in the voyage charter market or on short term or variable rate time charters. The tanker industry has historically been highly cyclical, experiencing volatility in profitability, vessel values and freight rates. In particular, freight and charter rates are strongly influenced by the supply of tanker vessels and the demand for oil transportation services.

Other operating (losses) gains relate to (i) gains and losses on the termination of capital leases before the expiration of the lease term, which are accounted for by removing the carrying value of the asset and obligation, with a gain or loss recognized for the difference. Gains and losses on the termination of leases are accounted for when the lease is terminated and the vessel is redelivered to the owners, (ii) gains and losses on the sale of vessels, which are recognized when the vessel has been delivered and all risks have been transferred and are determined by comparing the proceeds received with the carrying value of the vessel and (iii) gains or losses from pooling and other revenue sharing arrangements where the Company is considered the principal under the charter parties and records voyage revenues and costs gross, with the adjustments required as a result of the revenue sharing arrangement being recognized as other operating gains or losses.

Contingent rental income or expense results from the Company's capital leases, which were acquired as a result of the Merger. Any variations in the estimated profit share expense that was included in the fair valuation of these lease obligations on the date of the Merger as compared to actual profit share expense incurred is accounted for as contingent rental income or expense.

Operating costs are the direct costs associated with running a vessel and include crew costs, vessel supplies, repairs and maintenance, drydockings, lubricating oils and insurance.

Administrative expenses are comprised of general corporate overhead expenses, including personnel costs, property costs, legal and professional fees and other general administrative expenses. Personnel costs include, among other things, salaries, pension costs, fringe benefits, travel costs and health insurance.

An impairment loss on a vessel or a vessel held under capital lease, equal to the difference between the vessel's carrying value and fair value, is recognized when the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the vessel.

Depreciation, or the periodic costs charged to our income for the reduction in usefulness and long-term value of our vessels, is also related to the number of vessels we own or lease. We depreciate the cost of vessels we own, less their estimated residual value, over their estimated useful life on a straight-line basis. We depreciate the cost of vessels held under capital lease over the term of the lease. No charge is made for depreciation of vessels under construction until they are delivered.

Interest expense relates to vessel specific debt facilities and capital leases. Interest expense depends on our overall borrowing levels and may significantly increase when we acquire vessels or on the delivery of newbuildings. Interest incurred during the construction of a newbuilding is capitalized in the cost of the newbuilding. Interest expense may also change with prevailing interest rates, although the effect of these changes may be reduced by interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments.

Any change in the fair value of marketable securities are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in accordance with ASC 825, see note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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None of the Company's interest rate swaps qualify for hedge accounting and changes in fair values are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Lack of Historical Operating Data for Vessels before their Acquisition (other than those acquired in a Business Combination)

Consistent with shipping industry practice, other than inspection of the physical condition of the vessels and examinations of classification society records, there is no historical financial due diligence process when we acquire vessels. Accordingly, we do not obtain the historical operating data for the vessels from the sellers because that information is not material to our decision to make acquisitions, nor do we believe it would be helpful to potential investors in our ordinary shares in assessing our business or profitability. Most vessels are sold under a standardized agreement, which, among other things, provides the buyer with the right to inspect the vessel and the vessel's classification society records. The standard agreement does not give the buyer the right to inspect, or receive copies of, the historical operating data of the vessel. Prior to the delivery of a purchased vessel, the seller typically removes from the vessel all records, including past financial records and accounts related to the vessel. In addition, the technical management agreement between the seller's technical manager and the seller is automatically terminated and the vessel's trading certificates are revoked by its flag state following a change in ownership.

Consistent with shipping industry practice, we treat the acquisition of a vessel (whether acquired with or without charter) as the acquisition of an asset rather than a business. Although vessels are generally acquired free of charter, we have agreed to acquire (and may in the future acquire) some vessels with time charters. Where a vessel has been under a voyage charter, the vessel is delivered to the buyer free of charter. It is rare in the shipping industry for the last charterer of the vessel in the hands of the seller to continue as the first charterer of the vessel in the hands of the buyer. In most cases, when a vessel is under time charter and the buyer wishes to assume that charter, the vessel cannot be acquired without the charterer's consent and the buyer's entering into a separate direct agreement with the charterer to assume the charter. The purchase of a vessel itself does not transfer the charter, because it is a separate service agreement between the vessel owner and the charterer. When we purchase a vessel and assume a related time charter, we must take the following steps before the vessel will be ready to commence operations:

•
obtain the charterer's consent to us as the new owner;
•
obtain the charterer's consent to a new technical manager;
•
in some cases, obtain the charterer's consent to a new flag for the vessel;
•
arrange for a new crew for the vessel;
•
replace all hired equipment on board, such as gas cylinders and communication equipment;
•
negotiate and enter into new insurance contracts for the vessel through our own insurance brokers;
•
register the vessel under a flag state and perform the related inspections in order to obtain new trading certificates from the flag state;
•
implement a new planned maintenance program for the vessel; and
•
ensure that the new technical manager obtains new certificates for compliance with the safety and vessel security regulations of the flag state.

Inflation

Although inflation has had a moderate impact on our vessel operating expenses and corporate overheads, management does not consider inflation to be a significant risk to direct costs in the current and foreseeable economic environment. It is anticipated that insurance costs, which have risen over the last three years, may well continue to rise moderately over the next few years. Oil transportation is a specialized area and the number of vessels is increasing. There will therefore be an increased demand for qualified crew and this has and will continue to put inflationary pressure on crew costs. However, in a shipping downturn, costs subject to inflation can usually be controlled because shipping companies typically monitor costs to preserve liquidity and encourage suppliers and service providers to lower rates and prices in the event of a downturn.

Results of Operations


Total operating revenues and voyage expenses

The Company adopted ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective from January 1, 2018. Prior periods have not been restated for impact of this standard, see Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation of the impact of the adoption of ASC 606.


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