Monjasa begins transition to fully UAE-flagged regional fleet

Marine fuels supplier Monjasa on Monday (27 April) said it has reflagged the first of an expected three United Arab Emirates-based tankers from the Liberian registry to the UAE flag.

The official reflagging of Monjasa Shaker (9,600 dwt) took place on 9 April 2026 during a scheduled drydocking campaign at Dubai Maritime City. 

The company said the reflagging reflects Monjasa’s long-term operational focus in the UAE and is carried out under the country’s new maritime law framework, supporting ambitions to further strengthen the national shipping registry.

Monjasa is primarily engaged in cabotage shipping between key UAE ports, including Dubai, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi.

With this move, Monjasa is among the first international shipowners to place tanker tonnage under the UAE flag. The company thereby strengthens its technical and operational alignment with regional requirements as one of the region’s largest marine fuels suppliers.

“Reflagging Monjasa Shaker to the UAE registry supports our core operations in the region, where our fleet serves customers daily across multiple UAE ports. It also reflects our strong connection to the country following 20 years of maritime operations in the Emirates,” said Anders Østergaard, Group CEO.

Monjasa acquired Monjasa Shaker in 2022, and this reflagging marks the beginning of a broader transition involving two other fully owned tankers, Monjasa Server (9,600 dwt) and Monjasa Shipper (7,991 dwt). Both vessels are scheduled to be reflagged to the UAE registry during next planned surveys.

Flying the UAE flag offers several operational advantages for vessels trading domestically, including close collaboration with national maritime authorities and quality oversight tailored to regional operating conditions.

The current drydocking campaign at Dubai Maritime City, carried out at Damen Albwardy shipyard, includes a 3rd class renewal expected to be finalised this month. This has included, among other things, deck and engine overhauls, as well as complete hull blasting, repainting and advanced coating to support operational efficiency and regulatory compliance ahead of her next voyages.

The Middle East & Africa region represents 33% of Monjasa’s total supply volume of 6.8 million tonnes of marine fuels annually. Overall, Monjasa operates a fleet of 28 owned and chartered tankers worldwide.

Facts about Monjasa Shaker

• Type: Oil and chemical tanker
• Year built: 2009
• Dwt: 9,600
• LOA: 118 metres
• Beam: 19 metres

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 28 April, 2026