Danish marine fuels supplier and shipowner Monjasa announced on 11 November 2026 that it had purchased five sister product tankers from Germany’s Bernhard Schulte in the largest single tonnage acquisition in its history. The deal will strengthen its West African operations and extend its investment in floating storage, fuel distribution and fleet management as changing trade patterns and supply disruptions reshape regional bunkering demand.

Five Sister Tankers Take Owned Fleet to 20

The five vessels each have a deadweight capacity of 16,621 tonnes and were built in 2010 or 2011. They are joining the Monjasa fleet under the following names:

The first four have already been delivered and deployed in West Africa and Northwest Europe, while Monjasa Trigger is scheduled for delivery by the end of November 2026. Following the acquisitions, Monjasa puts its fleet at 20 owned tankers and around 10 vessels on time charter. The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Monjasa Group CEO Anders Østergaard pointed to the vessels’ quality, transaction terms and compatibility with the existing fleet as key attractions. Acquiring five sister ships also allows the company to draw on its established knowledge of operating costs and technical requirements while gaining greater deployment flexibility.

Rerouting and Supply Disruption Reshape Demand

Monjasa’s continued investment in West Africa follows several changes in regional marine fuel demand. When the company announced the acquisition of Monjasa Rover and Monjasa Hunter in July 2024, it identified prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, prompted by Red Sea security risks, as a factor lifting West African bunker demand above 2023 levels. For vessels trading between Asia, Europe and Atlantic markets, changes in routing affect fuel consumption and refuelling plans, creating opportunities for suppliers along alternative routes.

A further shift emerged in 2026. In April, Monjasa reported a significant increase in West African bunker demand following disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, with particularly strong activity in Walvis Bay, Namibia, and Lomé, Togo. Casper Borgen, Monjasa’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, attributed the increase primarily to fuel availability problems following disruption at major bunkering hubs such as Fujairah. The company supported supplies through local sourcing contracts and additional imports while adjusting its logistics and fleet to meet the increase in activity.

These developments suggest that both vessel movements and fuel availability need to be considered when assessing West Africa’s bunkering market. Uncertainty at an established hub can prompt shipowners to reconsider where they buy fuel. Whether an alternative location can accommodate those enquiries depends on the coordination of product sourcing, storage, delivery vessels and scheduling. For an operator with an established regional presence, greater access to suitable tonnage can help turn additional enquiries into completed deliveries.

A Supply Network Built Around Floating Storage

The latest acquisition builds on Monjasa’s existing West African supply network. According to the company, its regional presence includes offices in Walvis Bay and Luanda, Angola, with Lomé serving as an important operational base. Its supply coverage extends along the coast from Abidjan to Walvis Bay, supported by floating storage and an operated tanker fleet.

In November 2023, Monjasa announced the purchase of the 68,589-dwt Monjasa Leader and the 13,051-dwt Monjasa Refiner for floating storage and bunker supply operations in West Africa. At the time, Group Shipping Director Torben Maigaard Nielsen explained that limited opportunities for shoreside fuel storage made floating storage an essential part of the company’s regional operations, allowing supply tankers to load alongside the storage vessel. Monjasa Leader was also scheduled to replace a time-chartered storage tanker, reflecting the company’s investment in owned assets.

Within this operating model, storage and delivery capacity need to work together. Larger storage vessels hold fuel, while supply tankers distribute individual parcels to customer ships. The number, carrying capacity and availability of those delivery vessels influence how much business the wider network can handle. The acquisition of five tankers of around 16,600 dwt can be understood in that context: it adds transport capacity that Monjasa can allocate across its operations, with scope to adjust deployment between markets and assignments.

The company’s investment in specialised vessels also shows the importance of matching ship characteristics to customer requirements. Monjasa Hunter, acquired in 2024, has a deadweight capacity of 7,858 tonnes and an overall length of 101 metres. Monjasa highlighted her suitability for offshore oil and gas facilities with restrictions on the length of vessels coming alongside, including floating production, storage and offloading units, or FPSOs. Storage tankers, regional supply vessels and ships suited to offshore customers therefore support different parts of its fuel delivery business.

Fleet Ownership Backed by Operational Control

Monjasa has been increasing its investment in owned vessels for several years. In 2023, it reported that its owned fleet had grown from five ships in 2018 to 13. Following the two acquisitions announced in July 2024, it operated 16 owned vessels and 15 on time charter, with owned ships outnumbering chartered vessels for the first time. These investments indicate a greater reliance on owned assets for regional supply capacity, while retaining the flexibility offered by chartered tonnage.

An expanding owned fleet also requires investment in crews and technical management. In December 2025, Monjasa announced a further expansion of crew management through the group’s technical ship management company, Montec, covering officers and cadets. It also established partnerships with maritime education institutions in Panama, Colombia and Namibia. In a business involving frequent berthing, offshore fuel deliveries and regional vessel coordination, crew training and stable management teams directly affect the ability to provide a consistent service.

Monjasa supplied 6.8 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2025 and completed 16,741 supply operations across 877 ports. It reported revenue of US$4 billion and net profit of US$39 million, while consolidated equity increased to US$472 million and its equity ratio reached 64.7%. Its global fleet, meanwhile, decreased from 33 vessels at the end of 2024 to 28 at the end of 2025. In its annual results announcement, Monjasa said a combination of owned and chartered vessels enabled it to respond to changing market conditions. Fleet size and deployment were therefore adjusted alongside investment in additional ships.

The five-vessel acquisition continues Monjasa’s integration of tanker assets with its marine fuel supply business. Accommodating additional demand in West Africa requires reliable fuel sourcing and the vessels to store, transport and deliver it. With the final ship scheduled to join by the end of November, the investment’s operational value will depend on how effectively the additional capacity improves regional delivery efficiency, vessel utilisation and service to customers.