Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements (or unaudited consolidated financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (or GAAP). These unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Teekay Tankers Ltd., its wholly-owned subsidiaries, equity-accounted joint venture and any variable interest entities (or VIEs) of which it is the primary beneficiary (collectively, the Company). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements have been omitted and, therefore, these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed on Form 20-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or the SEC) on April 1, 2021. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in total equity for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of those for a full fiscal year. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (or COVID-19) as a pandemic. Given the dynamic nature of these circumstances, the full extent to which the COVID-19 global pandemic may have direct or indirect impacts on the Company's business and the related financial reporting implications cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, although the pandemic could materially affect the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition in the future. COVID-19 resulted in a significant decline in global demand for oil during 2020; although oil demand has partially recovered in 2021, new outbreaks may continue to have a negative impact on oil demand in the future. As the Company's business is primarily the transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products on behalf of customers, any significant decrease in demand for the cargo the Company transports could adversely affect demand for the Company's vessels and services. Spot tanker rates have come under pressure since mid-May 2020 as a result of significantly reduced oil demand due to COVID-19 and the subsequent decision by the OPEC+ group of oil producers to implement record oil supply cuts. Reduced oil production from other oil producing nations due to the impact of COVID-19, as well as the unwinding of floating storage and the delivery of newbuilding vessels to the world tanker fleet, has also contributed to the weakness in tanker rates. COVID-19 was also a contributing factor to the write-down of certain tankers during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, as described in Note 15 - Write-down and Loss on Sale of Assets, and the reduction in certain tax accruals during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 as described in Note 10 - Income Tax Recovery (Expense).