(Reuters) -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.