Thun Tankers BV, part of Swedish shippers Erik Thun Group, and a member of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, has taken another step in the development of a modern and future-ready fleet with the launch of the "Thun Response", the fifth vessel in the well-proven R-Class series.
The launch ceremony took place on May 30, 2026, at the Ferus Smit BV shipyard in Leer, Germany, in the presence of godmother Eleonora Campazzi, business partners, and colleagues.
Following the successful launch, Thun Tankers took delivery of the fourth vessel in the R-Class series, “Thun Resolve”, on June 4, 2026, in Delfzijl, the Netherlands.
These are the numbers four and five in the series of ten ordered R-Class product tankers.
Efficient and reliable short-sea tankers
The R-Class series is designed for efficient, reliable service in the Northern European short-sea product tanker market.
Upon delivery, the vessels will enter a long-term employment program serving established trade lanes and key chartering partners.
The vessel will be operated by Thun Tankers BV and enter the managed fleet of MF Shipping Group, which will provide technical management.
The vessels will sail as part of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, strengthening a collaborative network focused on safety, operational reliability, and stable transport capacity for customers across the region.
We are proud to take another step forward together with our partners in developing sustainable shipping solutions. A sincere thank you to everyone involved for a job well done, said Henrik Källsson, Deputy Managing Director at Erik Thun Group.
Practical sustainability
Built with a focus on practical sustainability, the vessels incorporate shore-power readiness, adaptive propulsion, UPS battery support, and the latest hull design to reduce resistance in real operating conditions.
The tankers are also methanol-ready, enabling a smoother transition to future low-emission fuels.
These combined features lower fuel consumption and emissions both at sea and in port, strengthening compliance with current and upcoming environmental requirements.
The launch of the Thun Response and the delivery of Thun Resolve mark yet another important milestone in building a competitive and future-proof fleet – in line with our ambition to be a long-term and sustainable partner across generations, commented Joakim Lund, Chief Commercial Officer at Thun Tankers.
