Mureloil NextGen Hybrid Bunker Tanker Bahía Candela Enters Commercial Service

Mureloil has officially commissioned its award-winning, Spanish-built hybrid chemical tanker Bahía Candela, which features an advanced battery-electric propulsion system designed for zero-emission port operations and ship-to-ship alternative fuel deliveries. The 7,000 DWT vessel will be primarily stationed in Barcelona, marking a major milestone for domestic naval engineering and the Western Mediterranean’s green bunkering infrastructure.

Spain | June 10, 2026 – Spain’s marine fuel logistics sector has hit a major decarbonization milestone. Leading bunker supplier and tanker owner Mureloil SA has officially commissioned its newest vessel, the Bahía Candela, into active service.

The 7,000 DWT hybrid diesel-electric chemical and oil products tanker began operations following exhaustive sea trials and technical commissioning, marking a decisive shift for the Bilbao-headquartered shipowner away from conventional oil transportation toward specialized, future-proof alternative fuel logistics.

The vessel’s entry into service underscores a growing trend in European bunkering: the proactive deployment of multi-fuel, low-emission supply vessels designed to meet the immediate compliance demands of the EU’s strict FuelEU Maritime and ETS frameworks.

Award-Winning Domestic Engineering: The Premios FINE Distinction

Underscoring the technical significance of its delivery, the Bahía Candela entered active service fresh off a major industry accolade. The hybrid vessel was awarded the prestigious Best Construction (Mejor Buque de Construcción Naval) honor at the Premios FINE (Fomento de la Industria Naval Española) awards.

The award was accepted by Jose Luis Caraballo, Managing Director of Mureloil, who emphasized that the recognition serves as an endorsement of the company’s long-term strategy to design, build, and operate state-of-the-art chemical tankers capable of meeting both current and future environmental mandates.

Crucially, the project represents a triumph for domestic maritime infrastructure, utilizing an entirely Spanish ecosystem of design, engineering, construction, and operation. Mureloil collaborated with a network of specialized national suppliers to bring the vessel to fruition, including:

• Astilleros de Murueta: The primary shipyard responsible for construction and hull design.
• Guascor Energy / Azcué / Vulkan / Wiresa / Inelsa: Key domestic technology partners providing propulsion, pumping systems, electrical integration, and specialized automation equipment.

Operating under the Spanish flag and crewed entirely by domestic maritime professionals, the vessel stands as a high-profile showcase of Spain’s localized naval architecture talent and industrial capacity.

Technical Architecture: A Blueprint for Zero-Emission Maneuvering

Constructed by the specialized domestic shipbuilder Astilleros de Murueta in Erandio, Spain, the Bahía Candela is optimized for the demanding nature of ship-to-ship (STS) marine fuel transfers.

The vessel features an advanced diesel-electric propulsion configuration paired with a high-capacity energy storage system (ESS) using onboard lithium-ion batteries.

Vessel Specifications: Bahía Candela (IMO 1056642)

The ship’s propulsion design, engineered by German specialists Schottel, features dual azimuth rudder propellers. This gives the bunker tanker precise 360-degree maneuverability, a critical safety asset when anchoring alongside massive container ships, bulkers, or cruise liners in choppy terminal waters.

The Port Zero-Emission Reality

The defining operational capability of the Bahía Candela is its ability to switch to 100% electric power during port maneuvers and bunkering operations. By engaging its battery reserves, the vessel can conduct berthing and unberthing without any direct greenhouse gas emissions, reducing local nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter to zero, while operating under near-silent acoustic conditions.

Strategic Shift: Preparing for the Next Generation of Marine Fuels

The Bahía Candela is Mureloil’s second hybrid vessel to enter active service, building on the operational lessons learned from its predecessor, the Bahía Levante, which has been bunkering in the Bay of Algeciras since 2023. A third sister vessel, the Bahía Beatriz, was launched earlier this year and is undergoing final outfitting, emphasizing Mureloil’s strategy to double its sustainable transport capacity.

Crucially, the Bahía Candela is not a conventional bunker barge. Its 12 cargo tanks are specially coated and engineered as an IMO Type II chemical tanker, making it fully prepared to handle new-generation alternative marine fuels, including:

• Second-Generation Biofuels (HVO / FAME blends)
• E-Methanol and Biomethanol
• Ethanol

As shipowners face escalating regulatory penalties for carbon intensity, the availability of localized, zero-emission infrastructure capable of delivering these alternative fuels is becoming a critical competitive advantage for major European ports.

Logistical Blueprint: From the Bay of Biscay to Barcelona

The Bahía Candela’s inaugural voyage serves as a logistical blueprint for its flexible deployment capabilities across Spain’s core maritime hubs.

• June 4 (Inaugural Commercial Loading): Departed northern Spain after loading its first commercial cargo at the Port of Bilbao and Mugardos (Galicia).
• June 9 (Strategic Stopover): Arrived at the Port of Algeciras near the entrance of the Mediterranean to interface with Mureloil’s local shoreside plant and crew.
• Present Deployment (Long-Term Operations): En route to the Port of Barcelona, where the vessel will remain stationed to conduct active green bunkering and chemical transport operations.

After finalizing its delivery paperwork, the tanker executed its first commercial loadings in the northern ports of Bilbao and Mugardos (Galicia). It then sailed south to the Strait of Gibraltar, making a strategic stopover at Algeciras to interface with Mureloil’s local shoreside teams.

The vessel has since initiated its final transit to the Port of Barcelona, which will serve as its primary operational base for the foreseeable future. Barcelona’s aggressive push to become a premier green maritime hub in the Western Mediterranean makes it an ideal environment for a vessel capable of zero-emission port operations.

Turning Corporate Visions into Operational Assets

For Mureloil’s leadership, the successful integration of the Bahía Candela represents the culmination of complex, multi-year engineering and human capital investments. Transitioning crews from standard thermal propulsion systems to high-voltage hybrid-battery grids required months of specialized system validation and safety training.

“Seeing the Bahía Candela maneuver without direct emissions and with practically zero acoustic impact shows that the energy transition of maritime transport is no longer a vision of the future, but an operational reality,” Mureloil stated. “For Mureloil, the Bahía Candela represents much more than a new asset. It represents our organization’s ability to tackle complex projects.”

As the Mediterranean prepares for stricter regional emissions caps, the Bahía Candela stands as proof that the bunker supply chain is rapidly adjusting to the realities of a decarbonized future.

About MURELOIL SA

MurelOil SA is a leading tanker owning and bunker service company based in Bilbao, Spain, specializing in the supply and transport of marine fuels. With a long history of excellence and a forward-looking approach to sustainability, MURELOIL is committed to driving innovation in the maritime fuel industry, ensuring a greener future for global shipping.

Source: MurelOil