Hercules Angelica to carry Malaysian biodiesel cargo on maiden voyage

Hercules Tanker Management (HTM) has deployed its new diesel-electric tanker, Hercules Angelica, on a maiden commercial voyage from Malaysia to north-west Europe. The vessel is scheduled to load fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), a form of biodiesel used in marine fuel blends, at Pasir Gudang for discharge in the United Kingdom or the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) region. HTM announced the assignment on 10 November 2026, a week after taking delivery of the ship in China.

What will Hercules Angelica carry on its first voyage?

Vessel-tracking data showed Hercules Angelica had arrived at Pasir Gudang and was moored there. HTM identified FAME as the first commercial cargo and named the UK and ARA as the discharge region. The company has yet to disclose the cargo volume, buyer or specific discharge terminal.

FAME can be blended with conventional marine fuels for supply to ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) lists it among the biofuels recognised under its guidelines for carrying blends of biofuels and petroleum cargoes. Separate IMO interim guidance allows conventional bunker vessels to carry blends containing up to 30 per cent biofuel, subject to the applicable conditions.

How is the tanker equipped for different marine fuels?

The Hercules Angelica uses diesel-electric propulsion and has MarineLINE-coated cargo tanks. HTM says the tanker is designed to transport and supply both conventional and alternative marine fuels. The coating supports the carriage of a range of cargoes, giving the operator flexibility to assign the ship to different products. On its first commercial assignment, the tanker is scheduled to carry FAME in its cargo tanks.

The tanker joins HTM’s Ultra-Spec series, which Peninsula has described as a family of 7,700-deadweight-tonne (dwt) chemical tankers built at Jiangmen Hangtong Shipyard in China. The series is designed to IMO Type II chemical tanker standards. Peninsula’s specification for the first four vessels included diesel-electric machinery prepared for battery integration.

Where does the delivery fit in HTM’s fleet renewal?

HTM was established by John A. Bassadone, founder and chief executive of marine fuel supplier Peninsula. In September 2024, Peninsula announced that HTM had ordered six additional Ultra-Spec tankers, with options for four more, following an earlier order for four sister vessels. Deliveries under the follow-on agreement were scheduled to begin in 2026.

The maiden assignment illustrates one of the roles envisaged for the series. Alongside supplying marine fuels, the tankers can move products between regional markets. In this case, the scheduled voyage links a Malaysian loading port with a north-west European discharge range.

FAQs

Where will Hercules Angelica load its first cargo?

The tanker is scheduled to load FAME at Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, for discharge in the UK or the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp region.

What is FAME in marine fuel?

FAME stands for fatty acid methyl esters. It is a biodiesel that can be blended with conventional marine fuel.

When did HTM take delivery of Hercules Angelica?

HTM took delivery of the diesel-electric tanker in China on 3 November 2026.