Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy has officially taken delivery of the Lucia Cosulich, a 7,999 DWT methanol-ready IMO Type II bunker tanker built at China’s Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard. As the second of four sister vessels in the group’s next-generation fleet expansion program, the high-spec tanker is engineered to provide immediate operational safety and future fuel flexibility for the global bunker market.
Taizhou, China | July 2, 2026 – Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy has officially taken delivery of the Lucia Cosulich, marking a pivotal advancement in the group’s multi-million-dollar fleet expansion program. The official handover ceremony took place yesterday at China’s Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard, just two months after the vessel’s launching ceremony on May 2, 2026.
The Lucia Cosulich is the second in a high-specification series of four sister bunker tankers commissioned by the Italian maritime group. Her delivery follows the handover of the first-in-class Anna Cosulich in late May, underscoring the rapid operational momentum driving Fratelli Cosulich’s transition toward next-generation bunkering infrastructure.
Technical Architecture: Precision Engineering for Low-Flashpoint Fuels
Classed by RINA and sailing under the Singapore flag, the 7,999 DWT Lucia Cosulich is built as an IMO Type II chemical and bunkering tanker. Measuring 114 meters in length and 19 meters in width, the vessel has been engineered from the keel up with a “future-proof” philosophy designed to balance immediate fossil fuel demands with the impending scaling of alternative marine fuels.
High-Spec Custom Features:
- Methanol-Ready Propulsion: Outfitted with advanced, battery-power-assisted propulsion systems, providing a bridge to low-flashpoint alternative operations as the regulatory and supply landscape matures.
- Specialized Cargo Systems: Coated with high-grade phenolic epoxy cargo tank systems from Advanced Polymer Coatings, ensuring full chemical compatibility to safely transport and bunker liquid methanol.
- Enhanced Safety Protocols: Features an integrated nitrogen generator system to keep cargo tanks oxygen-depleted and inert, alongside dedicated piping and quick-connect couplings designed to minimize risk during hazardous chemical transfers in high-traffic ports.
- Mass Flow Meters (MFMs): Equipped with state-of-the-art MFMs to ensure maximum regulatory compliance, transparency, and volume accuracy during physical fuel deliveries, bypassing traditional, error-prone tank-sounding methods.
Commercial Strategy: A Flexible Approach to Net-Zero
The handover represents a critical commercial asset for Fratelli Cosulich’s Singapore-based bunkering arm, Marine Energy Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers. By focusing on dual-flexibility and advanced technical tolerances, the vessel is capable of serving both ultra-large commercial vessels in global mega-hubs and managing coastal regional bunkering routes where smaller tonnage is required.
The technical layout directly aligns with tightening international environmental mandates, including FuelEU Maritime and the IMO’s revised Greenhouse Gas (GHG) strategies, which penalize traditional fuel usage while incentivizing dual-fuel and low-emission capabilities.
“With this delivery, the Group continues the development of its new-generation bunker fleet, designed to support current operations and future fuel requirements with a focus on reliability, safety, and fuel flexibility,” the company stated in a release. “The delivery reflects the deep collaboration between the project team, shipyard partners, and all parties involved throughout the construction and completion process.”
As the Lucia Cosulich enters its final preparation phase before initiating commercial service, the vessel stands as a concrete indicator that the physical bunkering supply chain is aggressively transitioning to accommodate the maritime industry’s next fuel era.
Fratelli Cosulich Group in Brief
Founded in 1857, the Fratelli Cosulich Group has grown into a global maritime powerhouse, with over 130 companies across 27 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Still family-owned and operated by its seventh generation, the Group encompasses 14 business units ranging from shipping and logistics to technology, catering, and manning, offering comprehensive services across the maritime value chain.
Marine Energy | Fratelli Cosulich
Established in 1969, Marine Energy | Fratelli Cosulich is a trusted leader in global marine fuels, specializing in bunker trading, physical supply, shipowning, ship management, and alternative fuel solutions. Operating through 11 international offices with a team of over 100 professionals, the division provides high-quality bunker fuel supply in key ports such as Singapore and Genoa, underpinned by ISCC Certification for sustainability and traceability in biofuels.
With ongoing investments in methanol-ready vessels and the expansion of its Small-Scale LNG fleet, Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy remains at the forefront of the global energy transition, delivering safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions for the maritime industry.
Source: Fratelli Cosulich Marine Energy