The use of tankers to store oil was cut in half in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, 224 VLCC (very large crude carriers – from 200,00 to 320,000 tonne deadweight) tankers were used , while in 2021, that figure stood at only 146, according to Refinitiv data. For Suezmax class tankers (deadweight 160,000 tonnes), the figures declined from 180 to 72 ad for Afaramax class tankers (deadweight from 80,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes), the decline was from 285 to 116.