DHT says its fleet has no US links after China's new port fee move

Oil tanker operator DHT Holdings DHT said on Monday that its fleet does not fall under the scope of China's new special port fees targeting U.S.-linked vessels.

China has imposed fees on U.S. ships that visit its ports, effective October 14, as a countermeasure to U.S. port fees on China-linked ships.

China's move targets U.S. built, flagged and operated ships, as well as companies with 25% or more of their shares or board seats held by U.S.-domiciled investment funds.

DHT said "each vessel in the company's fleet is directly owned by a non-U.S. entity, was built in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, does not fly the U.S. flag and is operated from management companies in Monaco, Norway, Singapore and India."

Additionally, U.S. nationals only represent 20% of the composition of the company's board, it said.

DHT added that it was not aware of U.S. shareholders or reporting groups that control over 25% or more of DHT's shares or voting rights. However, the company cautioned that it cannot accurately verify the ownership of each individual shareholder.