Soviet Union concentrating on building 20,000 tons and more tankers according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated 8 June 1957

An item reported that the Soviet Union concentrated until now on the building of the 8.000 ton Leningrad class tankers of which more as 30 were built an taken into service since 1951. Now were tankers of 20,000 tons and more under construction. These tankers were mostly used on the shipping line Black Sea-Bloc requirements especially to the Far East. Since the Suez crisis were Soviet cargo ships and tankers avaible on the world market to be chartered. In the meantime Soviet tankers transport oil from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.