After a recent fleet reshuffle, this oil and chemical tanker has made its way to Panama from West Africa, where it previously operated under Monjasa’s fleet. The Monjasa Thunder is now set to serve multiple roles, including being the first floating storage option in the Panama Canal, while also conducting regional cargo and supply operations.
This strategic move is expected to significantly boost the efficiency of bunker operations in the Panama Canal, with the Monjasa Thunder already fully operational at the Balboa Anchorage.
Revolutionizing Marine Fuel Logistics
The arrival of Monjasa Thunder coincides with an increase in the number of ships transiting the Panama Canal, following months of reduced capacity due to draft restrictions. Approximately 70% of these transiting ships stop for bunkers in the Cristóbal or Balboa areas, emphasizing the need for flexible supply logistics within the marine fuels industry.
“Offering modern maritime solutions is our way of contributing to this historic shipping destination. We strive to challenge the status quo and create more flexibility for shipowners in and around the Panama Canal. Combining bunkering, storage, and cargo operations in a single vessel is unprecedented,” states Rasmus Jacobsen, Managing Director of Monjasa Americas.
Innovative Storage and Trading Solutions
With a storage capacity close to 20,000 tonnes and advanced technical features such as deep-well cargo pumps and multiple tank segregations, Monjasa Thunder is an ideal floating storage solution, offering more efficient loading operations—the first of its kind in Panama.
Additionally, Monjasa Thunder brings new opportunities across the supply chain by engaging in the import and export of various fuel products throughout Panama and surrounding markets. These products include:
- Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
- High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO)
- Marine Gas Oil (MGO)
Monjasa Thunder is also approved for the storage of all grades of biofuels and facilitates onboard blending.
Investing in Local Talent
Monjasa has previously introduced sister vessels Monjasa Supplier and Monjasa Striker (both 8,839 DWT), which are now the second-largest supply vessels following the Monjasa Thunder. This expansion brings new opportunities for local maritime professionals and educational institutions in Panama. With the addition of 36 Panamanian seafarers on board the Monjasa Thunder, Monjasa now employs a total of 108 local seafarers across its three owned tankers in Panama.
Overall, Monjasa operates seven vessels in the Panama Canal and supplied a total of 2.9 million tons of marine fuels across the Americas in 2023.
