On Saturday 30 May, Thun Tankers launched Thun Response, the fifth vessel in their well-proven R-class series. The ceremony took place at the Ferus Smit shipyard in Leer, Germany, in the presence of godmother Eleonora Campazzi, business partners and colleagues.
Cattewater Harbour CEO and Harbour Master, Captain Richard Allan had the privilege of attending the launch ceremony.
“Thun Tankers are a key stakeholder and port user for Plymouth, the distinct green hulls can often be seen visiting up to two or three times a week.
Witnessing this investment first hand into the future and more sustainable tonnage is really exciting for the industry, Thun Tankers and ports such as Plymouth.
Thank you to everyone at Thun Tankers, and partners such as MF Shipping Group Graypen Circle K for the warm hospitality in Groningen, and for making it such a memorable experience from start to finish.
Plymouth and Cattewater Harbour Commissioners looks forward to welcoming a ‘Thun R’ in the near future.”
The R-Class series is designed for efficient and reliable service in the Northern European market for short sea product tankers. Upon delivery, the vessels will be part of a long-term employment program serving established trade routes and key chartering partners. The vessel will be operated by Thun Tankers BV and will be part of MF Shipping Group’s managed fleet, where they are responsible for the technical management. The vessels will sail as part of the Gothia Tanker Alliance, strengthening a cooperation network with a focus on safety, reliability and stable transport capacity for customers throughout the region.
Built with a focus on practical durability, the vessels feature shore power readiness, adaptive propulsion, UPS battery support and the latest hull design to reduce drag in real-world operating conditions. The tankers are also methanol-ready, which enables a smoother transition to future low-emission fuels. The combination of this results in lower fuel consumption and emissions both at sea and in port, strengthening compliance with current and future environmental requirements.
“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,” says Henrik Källsson, Deputy CEO of Erik Thun Group.
“The launch of Thun Response [and the delivery of Thun Resolve] marks 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,” continues Joakim Lund, Chief Commercial Officer at Thun Tankers.
You can watch Thun Response’s launch here.
