Natalia Cosulich Steel Cutting Ceremony

On February 4, the steel cutting ceremony of Natalia Cosulich took place at Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard, China, marking the official start of construction of the final vessel in Fratelli Cosulich’s new methanol-ready bunker tanker programme.

The ceremony, attended by Ms Diana Mok, Managing Director of Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers (S) Pte Ltd, symbolised the first tangible step in transforming design into structure.

While the steel cutting represents the beginning of Natalia Cosulich’s construction journey, it also marks the closing milestone of Fratelli Cosulich’s four-vessel newbuild programme — a project conceived to support the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-carbon and alternative marine fuels.

Natalia Cosulich is the fourth and final sister vessel in the Group’s new series of methanol-ready IMO II bunker tankers, completing a dedicated fleet developed to meet the evolving needs of sustainable bunkering operations. As with the other vessels in the series, her name reflects a long-standing tradition within the Cosulich family, highlighting the Group’s deep-rooted values and its belief in continuity and long-term vision.

The vessel will be constructed to high environmental and operational standards and will be fitted with a phenolic epoxy cargo tank coating. This solution provides robust chemical resistance, long-term protection of the cargo tanks, and supports the safe and efficient handling of methanol and other specialised cargoes in future bunkering operations.

The steel cutting of Natalia Cosulich not only signals the start of a new vessel’s construction, but also reflects  the Group’s approach to fleet development, innovation and readiness for an evolving marine energy landscape.