Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fleet-wide time charter equivalent (TCE) was approximately $50,500 per vessel per day, with VLCCs at nearly $50,000 and Suezmaxes at $51,500 [3] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $47.3 million, with an adjusted net profit of $26.7 million and adjusted EPS of $0.83 [3] - TCE revenue for the six-month period was $113 million, with EBITDA close to $80 million and reported net income exceeding $39 million or $1.23 per share [4] - The company ended the quarter with $65 million in cash and total debt of $631 million, resulting in a book leverage of 57% and a market-adjusted net loan-to-value (LTV) of around 40% [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company operates a fleet of 14 vessels, including six Suezmaxes and eight VLCCs, with an average age of 5.9 years, making it the youngest fleet among listed crude tanker peers [5] - The company achieved 100% utilization in both VLCC and Suezmax segments, with a significant increase in TCE quarter-on-quarter [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market has eased compared to Q2, but the outlook remains optimistic for Q4, with 77% of RVs fixed in the spot market at $44,200 per day [15] - The Suezmax market is currently firm, with expectations of fixing voyages at rates higher than Q3 guidance [15] - OPEC is expected to unwind production cuts, leading to increased tanker utilization [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the public platform of choice within the crude oil tanker space, focusing on expanding its investor base and enhancing its capital structure [10] - Recent refinancing transactions have lowered financing margins and extended average maturities, which is expected to result in annual interest savings of around $1 million [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed a constructive outlook for the remainder of the year, citing supportive market dynamics and the potential for increased demand due to OPEC's production adjustments [29] - The company noted that the supply side remains structurally tight, particularly for large vessels, which is expected to support tanker earnings in the coming years [22] Other Important Information - The company declared a dividend of $0.70 per share, marking the fifteenth consecutive distribution, with total distributions over the last four quarters amounting to $1.82 per share [3] - The company has been actively cleaning vessels for diesel trade, which has provided unique opportunities in the spot market [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Overview of the VLCC that was cleaned for diesel trade - Management indicated that the vessel will likely return to loading crude cargo after the diesel voyage, emphasizing their unique ability to clean vessels themselves [34] Question: Impact of OPEC production increases on cargo availability - Management confirmed that cargoes are returning to the market, with VLCC rates experiencing a significant increase recently [40] Question: Economics of cleaning vessels and market conditions - Management explained that the profitability of cleaning vessels depends on the spread between clean and dirty rates, with specific conditions required for it to be economically viable [48] Question: Future of Russian crude imports and market dynamics - Management suggested that a shift in import preferences could lead to increased Russian crude sales to China, impacting ton miles and trade flows [75] Question: Operating costs and exchange rate impacts - Management noted that operating costs have increased due to euro-based expenses and exchange rate fluctuations, but overall costs are expected to remain relatively flat [68]