Wärtsilä and Erik Thun partnership to enhance reliability and performance

(Posted on 23/04/26)

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a new long-term overhaul frame agreement with Swedish operator Erik Thun Group. The agreement has been developed jointly with longstanding fleet management partner MF Shipping Group, and includes comprehensive overhaul services, technical services, field services, workshops support, and parts supplies. The aim is to ensure the longevity and performance of the 4-stroke medium-speed engines, propulsion machinery, and shaft line equipment installed throughout the Erik Thun Group fleet. The agreement was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2026.

The Erik Thun Group fleet, comprising of general dry cargo vessels, product tankers and cement carriers, operates across Northern European short sea shipping routes with around 50 vessels serving multiple segments. As a longstanding Wärtsilä customer, Erik Thun Group has procured engines and propulsion solutions for various vessel classes.

The shipping industry is shifting from transactional services to long-term lifecycle partnerships, prioritising operational continuity and efficiency in response to market demands for reliability and sustainability. Enhanced digitalisation and regulatory pressures are driving companies to adopt future-ready models that ensure safety, resilience, and ongoing value creation.

“This agreement reflects our commitment to reliable operations and continuous improvement. We continue to introduce new and increasingly sustainable generations of vessels, and in this, the know-how and expertise of Wärtsilä plays an important role,” comments Henrik Källsson, Deputy Managing Director, Erik Thun Group.

The scope of the agreement between Wärtsilä and Erik Thun Group includes comprehensive technical and operational services, including maintenance of 4-stroke medium-speed engines, propulsion systems, and shaft line equipment across Erik Thun Group’s fleet. Wärtsilä will deliver field services to minimise vessel downtime through proactive maintenance. Workshop support will be provided to recondition and restore components to working condition and to meet OEM standards. In addition, a reliable supply of spare parts will ensure consistent operational reliability.

Erik Thun Group will benefit from improved fleet performance, technical services, extended equipment lifecycles, and assured operational continuity, ensuring their vessels operate efficiently and sustainably.

“By delivering broad service coverage and OEM-level support, we can enhance fleet reliability, minimise downtime, reduce fuel consumption and simplify overhaul planning for short sea schedules. As the industry moves towards decarbonised operations, Wärtsilä provides the lifecycle support needed to ensure compliance, operational performance, and future-ready viability,” says Stefan Wiik, Vice President, Parts & Field Service, Wärtsilä Marine.