IMO Secretary General attends launch of the methanol-ready tanker Thun Resolve
On Thursday 12th February, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and head of the UN body responsible for maritime safety and environmental protection, attended the launch of the methanol-ready product tanker Thun Resolve at the Ferus Smit shipyard in Leer. Brigit Gijsbers, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management's Deputy Director-General for Aviation and Maritime Affairs, served as the ship's godmother.
The Thun Resolve is the latest addition to Erik Thun Group's R-class fleet. The presence of the IMO Secretary-General highlights the importance of sustainable vessels in achieving the IMO's 2050 climate neutrality targets.
Efficient and Future-Proof
The vessel combines modern design with practical solutions for cleaner shipping: an optimized hull, adaptive propulsion, shore power connections, and a UPS battery system in port. It is methanol-ready and can be converted within weeks once bunker infrastructure becomes available in Rotterdam and Hamburg, expected from 2027 onwards.
"We're building our fleet for the next 25 years," says Johan Källsson, Managing Director of Erik Thun Group. "Methanol-ready means we can convert as soon as the infrastructure is there, without taking ships out of service for months. That's practical sustainability."
European Collaboration and Fleet Management
The Thun Resolve was built at Ferus Smit BV in Leer and is the 51st vessel that Erik Thun Group has ordered from this shipyard since 1991. The ship will be operated by Thun Tankers BV and incorporated into MF Shipping Group fleet, which has provided full ship management since 1994, including technical management, crewing, quality assurance, and newbuilding supervision.
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Year-Round operations in Northern Europe
With Ice Class 1A certification, the tanker can operate year-round on shortsea routes in Northern Europe. With a cargo capacity of 9,500 m³, it transports chemicals and oil products between Scandinavia, the Baltic states, and Western Europe. The Thun Resolve will enter service in March 2026 on trade routes in the ARA region (Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp). The modern hull design and adaptive propulsion deliver demonstrable fuel savings, particularly on short routes with frequent port calls.
International Dialogue on Innovation
Following the launch, Thun Tankers and MF Shipping Group organised an international panel discussion at the historic Martini Kerk in Groningen. Ship owners, technical managers, seafarers, regulatory experts, and energy companies engaged in conversation about the key challenges of the maritime energy transition, including infrastructure for alternative fuels, geopolitical effects on fuel availability, and safeguarding seafarer welfare. The dialogue emphasized that successful decarbonization is only possible through close collaboration across the entire maritime chain.
