Tanker rates may not be anything to party about, but VLCC pool operator Tankers International (TI) clearly thought it was time to get back to normal business.

TI threw one of its legendary evenings at The Phene pub in the heart of Chelsea in London on Thursday night, where guests appeared to be both delighted and some slightly shell-shocked to be meeting each other at close quarters once again.

Mask-less broking and shipowning faces mingled at the bar and in the courtyard garden of TI's local, with no social distancing in sight as industry associates greeted each other with hearty embraces.

Such was post-lockdown euphoria at being let out that some had made the trip from the US to attend and were getting into the swing of things ahead of return flights the next day. Ouch!

Many were bewailing the lack of face-to-face contact during the on-off lockdowns of the past 18 months and the limitations of what you can do on a Zoom or Teams call.

As if proof were needed, whispered market conversations were also in play as attendees mingled and moved aside with contacts to discuss more specific private details.

So where is that famous TI VLCC app just when it is most needed and charter rates start to show signs of stirring again? The last reported fixture was in August.

The official line is that it is being upgraded. Let's hope the market follows.