IMO Secretary-General Attends Launch of Methanol-Ready Product Tanker Thun Resolve at Ferus Smit Shipyard
Erik Thun Group has officially launched its latest product tanker, Thun Resolve, the newest vessel in its R‑class “Resource Efficiency” series, designed for top-tier performance, sustainability, and crew safety. The launch took place at Shipyard Ferus Smit BV in Leer, Germany, at 11:00 CET and was attended by IMO (International Maritime Organization) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who leads global maritime safety and environmental protection efforts. The ceremony also included Brigit Gijsbers, Deputy Director-General for Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs in the Netherlands, who served as the vessel’s Godmother, highlighting Erik Thun Group’s commitment to responsible, future-ready shipping.
Thun Resolve is built to provide efficient and reliable service in the Northern European short-sea product tanker market. Upon delivery, the vessel will enter a long-term employment program serving established trade lanes and key chartering partners. It will be operated by Thun Tankers BV and managed by MF Shipping Group, while also sailing as part of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, enhancing safety, operational reliability, and stable transport capacity for customers across the region.
The vessel incorporates advanced sustainability features, including shore-power readiness, adaptive propulsion, UPS battery support, and an optimized hull design to reduce resistance in real operating conditions. Thun Resolve is methanol-ready, enabling a seamless transition to low-emission fuels and reducing fuel consumption and emissions both at sea and in port, in line with current and upcoming environmental regulations. “Thun Resolve strengthens our ability to support customers who rely on safe, efficient, and dependable transport in a changing regulatory landscape,” said Johan Källsson, Managing Director of Erik Thun Group.
Built by Ferus Smit BV, Thun Resolve continues a long-standing partnership that now spans 51 vessels. Erik Thun Group’s collaboration with Ferus Smit and MF Shipping Group reflects decades of trust, quality, and long-term European shipbuilding heritage. Following the launch, an international panel discussion was hosted at the Martinikerk in Groningen, the Netherlands, bringing together partners and stakeholders to address sustainable shipbuilding, efficient transport solutions, and digitalization on board, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to collaborative approaches in the maritime energy transition.
Key specifications of Thun Resolve include a length overall of 114.95 meters, a beam of 15.87 meters, a draft of 6.9 meters, deadweight of 7,999 tons, cargo tank capacity of 9,500 cubic meters, and Ice Class 1A, allowing year-round operations in Northern Europe. “The R‑class combines proven design with practical innovation,” said Joakim Lund, Chief Commercial Officer at Thun Tankers BV. Adaptive propulsion, methanol readiness, and a modern hull form deliver operational gains from day one, while shore-power and UPS support reduce environmental impact in port. It’s technology that works for both people and performance.
