knot offshore partners lp (nyse: knop) owns, operates and acquires shuttle tankers under long-term charters in the offshore oil production regions of the north sea and brazil. knop is structured as a publicly traded master limited partnership (1099 filer). the partnership’s sponsor, knutsen nyk offshore tankers (knot), is a joint venture between leading global diversified shipping groups knutsen group and nyk group, providing material support to knop in all aspects of its operations, administration, and business development.