For Suezmax it was a firmer week in the Atlantic, with strong activity in West Africa and the recent flurry in Aframax inquiry in the US Gulf supporting firmer owner sentiment. Rates on the US Gulf to the UK Continent route jumped to WS 72.5 amid a lack of ‘safe’ tonnage, and rates on the West Africa to UK Continent route now theoretically stand at around WS 75. By contrast, rates in the Mediterranean remained steady, with inquiry limited and ample tonnage available. The Aframax market was strong in the US Gulf, with rates on the US Gulf to UK Continent route rising to WS 120. It was a quiet end to the week in the Mediterranean, and cross-Mediterranean rates remained steady w-o-w. Rates in the North Sea firmed, and the market seems much more finely balanced than a few weeks ago. Looking at VLCC rates in the Middle East Gulf dropped back this week, to WS 37 on the route to China, with sentiment suffering from heavy tonnage availability. It was a similar story in the West, and despite a busier period in the US Gulf towards the end of the week, rates on the US Gulf to China route dropped to $7.3m.