Peninsula’s shipping arm Hercules Tanker Management (HTM) has announced further investment in its fleet, supporting the long-term development of Peninsula’s global marine fuel supply and bunkering operations. HTM has confirmed an order for six new “ultra-spec” vessels, with options for a further four, following the recent announcement of four additional newbuild tankers.
The agreement will bring up to ten next-generation vessels into the fleet, with the first deliveries scheduled from 2026. The 7,700 DWT IMO II chemical tankers will be built at the Jiangmen Hangtong Shipyard in China and will be sister ships to the vessels previously announced.
Designed to offer high flexibility across conventional and alternative marine fuels, the ships will support Peninsula’s physical supply chain and the safe, efficient delivery of fuels to customers worldwide.
All vessels will be capable of supplying up to 100% biofuels, all forms of methanol, and will be equipped with diesel-electric, battery-ready propulsion systems. Combined with advanced hull and propeller design, these features are expected to reduce emissions by around 20% compared with older conventional tanker tonnage.
John A. Bassadone, Founder and CEO of both Hercules Tanker Management and Peninsula, said: “The expansion of HTM’s fleet represents a strategic investment in the shipping infrastructure that underpins Peninsula’s marine fuel supply and bunkering activities globally.
While we remain fully committed to the reliable supply of conventional fuels, these ultra-spec vessels will allow us to do so with lower emissions and, at the same time, support the growing demand for alternative fuels such as biofuels and methanol. This combination of modern tonnage and specialist capability positions both HTM and Peninsula to play a leading role in the energy transition across the maritime sector.”