ST. PETERSBURG, September 25. /TASS/. Premium rates on oil shipment from Russian ports due to the influence of the local market may persist for the coming year or several years, Chief Executive Officer of Sovcomflot Igor Tonkovidov said in an interview with TASS.

"With global oil trade reshaped, both directions and distance of oil supply routes have changed. This has an additional impact on the Russian market where a limited number of vessels operate. In turn, it defines premium rates on shipment of oil from Russian ports. I suggest that such a trend will persist in the coming year or even several years," he explained.

Sovcomflot’s fleet currently contains around 100 large-capacity tankers, which are involved in transportation of Russian exports.

Sovcomflot Group is Russia’s largest shipping company and one of the global leaders in marine transportation of hydrocarbons, including crude oil and petroleum products, liquefied gas, and in transport servicing of oil and gas projects on the continental shelf, including offshore seismic exploration.