Erik Thun has proudly taken delivery of Thun Vettern, a 17,999-dwt vessel built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou. This vessel is an upgraded version of its sister ship, Thun Venern, and represents the latest addition to the “Vinga-series” all of which trade within the Gothia Tanker Alliance.
Thun Vettern is the newest member of the Vinga-series and boasts an ice class 1A rating. All sister ships in this series are designed by Furetank in collaboration with FKAB, with a strong emphasis on minimizing environmental impact. The vessels in the Vinga-series feature dual-fuel propulsion capability, running on LNG/LBG or gasoil, and are fully equipped for shore power connection when available in ports. They incorporate a battery hybrid solution and several innovative features that significantly reduce fuel and energy consumption. These innovations result in extensively lowered emissions of CO2, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and hazardous particles. Impressively, the ships have achieved the best Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) value in their segment globally, making them the most energy-efficient vessels according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The Vinga-series is designed for the intense and demanding trade in the North Sea and Scandinavia and is well-suited to meet the growing European demand for biofuels and renewable feedstocks.
Erik Thun’s close partner, Furetank, will manage the new vessel both technically and commercially. Upon delivery, Thun Vettern will enter into the Gothia Tanker Alliance network, further strengthening the alliance’s capabilities.
Johan Källsson, Managing Director at Erik Thun AB, commented on the delivery: “Sustainability work has always been and will continue to be a focus for Erik Thun. Taking delivery of a resource-efficient, top-performing product tanker like Thun Vettern, and further deepening our good and long-term cooperation with Furetank, is a great example of our vision to be a sustainable Swedish partner over generations.”
This new addition underscores Erik Thun’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in the maritime industry, positioning the company to meet future challenges and demands effectively.
Gothia Tanker Alliance
The Gothia Tanker Alliance is a cooperative network of shipping companies that operate tankers, primarily focused on providing efficient and sustainable tanker services in Northern Europe. The alliance consists of several member companies, including Furetank, Rederi AB Älvtank, and Erik Thun AB, among others. These companies collaborate to optimize fleet utilization, share resources, and implement environmentally friendly technologies and practices across their fleets.
Key aspects of the Gothia Tanker Alliance include:
- Collaboration and Efficiency: Member companies work together to improve operational efficiency and provide reliable tanker services to their customers. By pooling their resources and expertise, they can offer a more flexible and responsive service network.
- Environmental Focus: The alliance emphasizes sustainability and the reduction of environmental impact. Many of the vessels in the Gothia Tanker Alliance fleet are equipped with advanced technologies to minimize emissions, such as dual-fuel engines capable of running on LNG, battery hybrid solutions, and shore power connections.
- Innovation and Technology: The alliance invests in innovative technologies and practices to enhance the performance and environmental sustainability of their vessels. This includes the adoption of new fuel types, energy-efficient designs, and cutting-edge emission reduction systems.
- Market Presence: The Gothia Tanker Alliance has a strong presence in the Northern European tanker market, servicing a wide range of customers and cargoes. Their collective fleet is capable of handling various types of liquid cargoes, including chemicals, oil products, and biofuels.
By working together, the members of the Gothia Tanker Alliance aim to set high standards for safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in the maritime industry.
About Erik Thun Group
The Erik Thun Group is a third-generation family company that values continuity within the family to ensure the preservation of its core values for the future. The group owns and operates close to 50 vessels, ranging from 4,000 to 18,684 tons deadweight, across four segments: tankers, dry cargo, self-unloaders, and cement carriers.
Thun Tankers, a subsidiary, is the market leader in Northwest Europe for smaller product tankers, operating 17 tankers and owning 13 outright, with sizes ranging from 4,250 to 10,000 dwt, including six intermediate vessels acquired since 2019. The group’s conventional dry cargo ships are Väner-max size, navigating routes between Lake Vänern, the west coast of Sweden, the Baltic Sea, and ports in Continental and Mediterranean regions, managed from their head office in Lidköping.
Their four self-unloading ships, equipped with Thun Cargo Scooper discharging equipment, trade commodities from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. Additionally, the group’s eight cement carriers, co-owned with NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers through the joint venture JT Cement AS, operate in Northern Europe, with capacities between 3,700 and 8,050 dwt. the company’s commitment to embracing sustainable practices and driving positive environmental change in the maritime sector.
Source Erik Thun AB