Fratelli Cosulich has marked another milestone in its fleet renewal programme with the keel laying of Carlotta Cosulich at Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard in China.

The ceremony took place on 4 February and signals the start of physical construction for the vessel, which is the third in a four-ship series of methanol-ready IMO II bunker tankers being developed under the group’s Marine Energy division.

The newbuilds are intended to support the shipping sector’s shift towards lower-carbon and alternative marine fuels, forming a core part of Fratelli Cosulich’s strategy to modernise and expand its bunkering fleet.

Designed with an emphasis on safety, operational versatility and future fuel capability, the vessels are being tailored to meet both current bunkering demand and the growing requirements of the methanol market.

Carlotta Cosulich will feature MarineLINE® cargo tank coating, a specialist solution developed for chemical cargoes such as methanol. The coating is aimed at improving cargo compatibility, safeguarding tank structures and enabling efficient methanol bunkering in line with evolving technical and regulatory standards.

The vessel’s name continues a long-standing Cosulich family tradition, with several bunker ships across the group’s fleet carrying family names to reflect continuity across generations.

The four-vessel programme highlights Fratelli Cosulich’s ongoing investment in alternative-fuel-ready tonnage and its broader role in supporting the transition towards cleaner marine energy solutions.