New generation bunker vessels turn to hybrid propulsion and high‑performance thrusters to enhance safety, efficiency, and emissions performance
Ship-to-ship transfer (STS) operations and bunkering in congested ports require precise manoeuvrability to maintain station keeping and safety margins. “Choosing azimuth thrusters for a diesel-electric bunker vessel is not just a technical preference – it is a strategic maintenance decision that enhances safety and performance in one of the most demanding maritime operations: ship-to-ship fuel transfer,” said Mureloil general manager, Jose Luis Caraballo.
One of the newest vessels in Mr Cababallo’s fleet is Bahía Beatriz, an 8,000-dwt battery-electric hybrid chemical tanker designed for bunkering operations and terminal-to-terminal fuel transport. Delivered by Astilleros de Murueta to Bilbao-based shipowner Mureloil, the chemical tanker joins its sister ship, the 2025-built Bahía Candela. Both tankers are under charter to Reposol, offering the flexibility to transport conventional marine fuels, biofuels, and methanol in the Port of Barcelona.
Like its sister vessel, Bahía Beatriz has two Schottel SRP 360 RudderPropellers and one STT1 Transverse Thruster unit and is among the first tankers to operate on battery-based diesel-electric power. This enables the tankers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% and operate on stored energy during port calls, bringing emissions down to zero. The chemical tankers are fitted with AYK Energy’s 4.2MWh Aries+ systems, which use lithium iron-phosphate chemistry. Battery technology is an effective way for shipowners and operators to meet increasingly stringent port and regional emissions regulations, such as FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System.Under its approved Energy Transition Plan, the Port of Barcelona plans to cut GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, 85% by 2040, and be carbon neutral by 2050.
In May, Schottel reported it was supplying larger, more powerful rudderpropellers for two new LNG bunkering vessels (LNGBVs) operated by Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG). Each of the 20,000-m3 LNGBVs will be equipped with two SRP 460 LE units.
As Riviera reported last year, the two LNGBVs are under construction at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard, with the first delivery scheduled for April 2027. Each bunker vessel will have Wärtsilä Gas Solutionscargo handling, fuel gas supply, and boil-off gas reliquefaction systems. The newbuilds underpin Shanghai’s ambitions as a growing LNG bunkering hub.
