Frontline boss Lars Barstad is staying on the sidelines of two big shipping confrontations involving his major shareholder John Fredriksen.

The Oslo-listed tanker company’s chief executive was asked for a public comment on the situation at Belgian rival Euronav’s changes in management and board composition following the failed merger with his company.

And he was also asked about Tuesday’s “back and forth” between Fredriksen and US tanker owner International Seaways over its governance.

"I understand the question, but it's not really for me to comment, to be quite honest," Barstad told the call.

“I’m an observer like you are on the Euronav situation. We are shareholders but that’s basically as far as it goes,” he added.

And the CEO said it is the same with International Seaways.

“I read what you read and I have limited visibility,” Barstad told the call.

Shipping tycoon Fredriksen is also the biggest shareholder in Euronav and now sits on the board, but has been thwarted in his merger ambitions by rival shareholders the Saverys family.

Euronav chief executive Hugo De Stoop left the company this month after losing shareholder support.

In addition, Fredriksen is a major shareholder of US-listed International Seaways but has been prevented from increasing his stake or having further influence on how it operates by “poison pill” share arrangements.

This stalemate erupted into a war of words on Tuesday, with Fredriksen’s private Seatankers Group accusing International Seaways’ management of being entrenched, shameless and self-interested.

International Seaways hit back by questioning why Fredriksen is “targeting” two female board directors up for re-election: CEO Lois Zabrocky and a former stalwart within the Fredriksen organisation, Kate Blankenship.