Hercules Tanker Management (HTM) has announced that its tanker, Hercules Vanessa, has commenced her maiden voyage, becoming the latest vessel to enter service under the company’s Ultra-Spec Series of next-generation tankers.

The vessel is the first vessel in the series to feature MarineLINE, a high-performance cargo tank coating system, and is currently en route to Port Louis to take on bunkers and provisions before continuing southbound to Cape Town. She is scheduled to discharge a cargo of biofuel — loaded at Nansha Terminal in China — in Ghent later this year.

The Ultra-Spec Series is a 10-vessel programme that forms part of HTM's long-term fleet renewal strategy, replacing older tonnage with more fuel-efficient vessels. Each tanker in the series has a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 7,700 tonnes and is designed to transport and supply all grades of conventional bunker fuels, as well as alternative fuels such as biodiesel blends up to B100 and methanol.

Key features across the fleet include diesel-electric propulsion, battery-ready systems and optimised hull designs aimed at boosting efficiency while reducing emissions.

Further deliveries from the 10-ship series are scheduled at regular intervals through 2027, with HTM previously stating that each new vessel supports its long-term sustainability targets, including an ambition to reach 10% alternative fuel consumption across its fleet by 2030.

As reported earlier this year, HTM's second Ultra-Spec Series vessel, Hercules Elisabeth, was deployed to the Strait of Gibraltar in April.

Headquartered in Dubai, HTM is the private shipping company of John Bassadone, CEO and founder of bunker supplier and trader Peninsula.