Of the 64 incidents recorded during January-September, three were incidents of piracy and 61 those of armed robbery against ships.

OOCL also planning a new mechanism for bunker charges as costs soar due to IMO 2020 rule.

The kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, SPA reported.

Surplus materials that weighed down the Asian naphtha complex might be taking a toll for participants to move parcels across regions, but arbitrage opportunities for some US suppliers to ship barrels into the Far East appear viable.

Power generation demand has fallen in the key fuel oil markets of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the year since last August, according to data from the International Energy Agency's monthly oil market report Friday, though fuel oil traders continue to eye the generation sector as a potential outlet after the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's 0.5% global marine sulfur cap in 2020.

Bunkering operations at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk have been suspended due to bad weather, sources said Friday.

New Vision, a Suezmax, was heard on subjects Friday to load approximately 130,000 mt of fuel oil from the Dutch hub of Rotterdam for discharge in Lome, and will likely feed into the West African bunker market, adding to liquidity there against the backdrop of a decline in deliveries.