Murueta Shipyards celebrated the launch of the Bahía Beatriz on February 27 at its facilities in Erandio (Vizcaya). The event marks a significant step in the construction schedule of this hybrid diesel-electric chemical tanker, whose delivery to the owner Mureloil is expected by the end of 2026. Once operational, the vessel will be chartered by Repsol and intended for the supply of alternative fuels in the Bay of Algeciras, including methanol, ethanol, and biofuels.
The Bahía Beatriz is the third vessel in a series that Murueta Shipyards builds exclusively for Mureloil. The series began in 2022 with the delivery of the Bahía Levante and continued in 2025 with the Bahía Candela. The three vessels share a technical profile oriented towards the supply of new fuels in port environments, reflecting the growing demand for specialized bunkering infrastructure in major European ports.
The vessel has a length of almost 94 meters and a cargo capacity of approximately 8,000 cubic meters, distributed across 12 tanks adapted for all types of fuels. The diesel-electric propulsion system, combined with advanced battery technology, allows for a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions during supply operations compared to conventional solutions. It will be classified by Bureau Veritas Spain and flagged in Spain.
One of the technical particularities of the project is obtaining the notationbunker methanol, a certification that makes it the first of its kind to receive this approval in Spain. This distinction accredits the vessel to operate with methanol as a supply fuel under regulatory safety standards, a capability that takes on special significance in the context of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) regulatory emissions reduction requirements. The project was developed by the technical office of Murueta Shipyards in direct collaboration with the owner.
For the Bay of Algeciras, the incorporation of this type of units consolidates its positioning as a strategic enclave in the supply of alternative fuels in the western Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar. The maritime corridor converging in Algeciras concentrates intensive transit and international transshipment activity, making low-emission fuel bunkering a service of increasing demand among shipowners calling at the port. The availability of specialized vessels like the Bahía Beatriz, capable of operating with methanol, ethanol, and biofuels, expands the catalog of bunkering solutions that the bay can offer to next-generation vessels.
The launch ceremony gathered representatives from the sector and maritime administration: the General Director of the Merchant Marine, Ana Núñez; the President of Murueta Shipyards, Juan Arana; the Managing Director of Mureloil, José Luis Caraballo; the General Director of Naviera Murueta, Andu Arguiñarena; and the Technical Director of Mureloil, Sergio López, among others. José Luis Caraballo indicated that "this new project highlights our commitment to excellence, based on knowledge and experience in the fuel supply sector, from design and construction to operation."
In parallel, Murueta Shipyards and Mureloil have signed an agreement for the construction of a fourth chemical tanker with similar characteristics to the Bahía Beatriz, this time intended for supply operations in Portuguese waters. The vessel will be chartered by Galp Energy and its delivery is expected by the end of 2027, extending the geographic projection of this specialized fleet beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.