Schottel has supplied the propulsion package for Bahía Beatriz, an 8,000-deadweight-tonne (DWT) hybrid chemical tanker built for bunkering operations and terminal-to-terminal fuel transport.

The vessel was built by Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Murueta and was launched in February 2026 by Bilbao-based owner Mureloil.

Bahía Beatriz will operate alongside sister vessel Bahía Candela, which is already in service with the same Schottel propulsion arrangement. According to the company, the two vessels together will double Mureloil’s capacity to transport biofuels and methanol.

Jose Luis Caraballo, General Manager at Mureloil, commented: “Choosing azimuth thrusters for a diesel-electric bunker vessel is not just a technical preference – it is a strategic maintenance decision that enhances safety and performance in one of the most demanding maritime operations: ship-to-ship fuel transfer.”

To support safe and efficient bunkering operations, Bahía Beatriz uses a diesel-electric propulsion system intended to provide dependable performance while helping to reduce emissions. The setup includes two Schottel RudderPropellers type SRP 360 and one Schottel TransverseThruster type STT 1.

Schottel explained that the arrangement is designed to give the vessel precise manoeuvrability, which is especially important when operating close to larger ships during ship-to-ship bunkering. The company added that built-in redundancy provides an extra layer of security and helps ensure continuous operation.

According to Schottel, the two vessels are among the first tankers to use battery-based diesel-electric power, with the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%. The propulsion concept is also intended to allow the ships to operate fully on electricity during port calls, reducing emissions to zero in those conditions.

Schottel said this gives owners and operators a way to meet increasingly strict port and regional rules without sacrificing range or operational flexibility.