Frontline chairman John Fredriksen is concerned by tensions in the Middle East after one of his tankers was recently attacked, but said he remains on good terms with Iran.
Escorts of merchant ships by Western naval vessels would help calm the situation, he said, although he doubted that Norway would take part.
Safety first
“I don’t like the development there [in the Middle East], to put it mildly. We are very cautious and very preoccupied with the security for our seamen and ships,” Fredriksen said.
“But if you want to be in the tanker business, you have to go to the Middle East,” he added.
Frontline’s 110,000-dwt suezmax tanker Front Altair (built 2016) was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this summer.
“I have good relations with Iran and have nothing outstanding with them.
“Iran took very good care of our crew onboard our tanker when it was taken to port,” said Fredriksen, who has an Iranian-born girlfriend, Maryam Mohaghegh.
Frontline said this week it expected the Front Altair to return to operation in the fourth quarter of this year after repairs are completed.
