Karin Orsel
CEO of MF Shipping Group, President of the European Community Shipowners’ Association
Mrs. Karin Orsel (1970) became a shipowner and maritime entrepreneur at the age of 23 in the northern town of Farmsum/Delfzijl in the Netherlands.
She is CEO and co-owner of the Dutch based ship management company MF Shipping Group since and managing director of Thun Tankers BV.
MF Shipping Group now runs a fleet of approximately 50 modern and versatile vessels, providing maritime transportation services worldwide. Oil product/chemical tankers, RoRo, multipurpose vessels, self-unloaders and cement carriers. MF Shipping Group employs approximately 900 seafarers and 80 office staff employees. The company is regarded in the tanker segment as one of the leading shipping companies. The tankers sail for the top 10 oil companies.
In 2017, Karin received an Honorary Doctor of Public Administration Degree of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in recognition of her significant contributions to and impact on the maritime industry through her leadership, motivation and commitment to excellence as well as her active participation in numerous national and international organizations. She also received prestigious awards, among which the “Industry Leader Award 2019” at the Tanker Shipping & Trade Conference in London and the “Personality of the Year 2019” at the WISTA International General Meeting. In 2021 Karin received the Seatrade Diversity & Equality Award an in October 2023 the SAFETY4SEA Personality Award. She has also been awarded the “IMO Gender Euality Award 2025”. This award recognizes individuals who actively promote diversity and inclusivity in the maritime sector.
Besides her core business, MF Shipping Group, she is an independent board member of various other organizations both inside and outside the maritime sector. She also is involved as an investor and mentor for several start- and scale ups.
She’s known as a strong advocate for the advancement of the Maritime Industry, Diversity & Inclusivity and developing Mental Health awareness is high on her agenda. Orsel currently serves as Chair of European Community Ship Owners Association (ECSA), is Norwegian Honorary Consul, Board member (immediate past President) of the Royal Association of Netherlands Ship-owners (KVNR), Chair Diversity panel ICS and Council member of the Executive Committee of INTERTANKO. She was a trustee of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) for 9 years, the last two as Chair until 2025.
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Board Positions |
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Director Thun Tankers B.V. |
Dutch set-up Erik Thun Group, Lidköping, Sweden |
2007-present |
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Director |
Dutch set-up KROHN & CO. (GmbH & Co.KG), Hamburg, Germany |
2001-present |
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Director |
Tanker Partners B.V., The Hague, The Netherlands |
2015-present |
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Director |
GENCO Shipping & Trading Ltd, New York, USA |
2021-present |
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Secundairy functions |
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Honorary Consul of Norway |
Royal Norwegian Embassy in the Hague |
2025-present |
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Chair |
European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) |
2024-present |
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Board Member |
Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners |
2004-present |
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Council Member |
INTERTANKO |
2016-present |
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Chair DEI Panel |
International Chamber of Shipping |
2020-present |
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Former positions |
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Board member |
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) |
2010-2024 |
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ExCo Member |
INTERTANKO |
2018-2024 |
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Vice-Chair |
European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) |
2021-2023 |
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Chair |
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) |
2023-2025 |
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Board member |
International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) |
2016-2023 |
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ExCo Member |
INTERTANKO |
2018-2024 |
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Chair |
Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners |
2017-2022 |
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Vice President |
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) |
2013-2017 |
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Board of Directors |
BIMCO |
2019-2023 |
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Member Supervisory Board |
Groningen Airport Eelde |
2016-2019 |
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Board of Governors |
World Maritime University Malmö |
2016-2018 |
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Chair |
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association international |
2011-2018 |
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Board member |
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association international |
2007-2011 |
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Chair |
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association Netherlands |
2006-2013 |
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Board member |
Dutch Trade Association VNO-NCW |
2009-2012 |
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Director |
Dutch set-up Ahlmark Lines A.-B., Karlstad, Sweden |
2006-2023 |
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Director |
Dutch set-up BRISE Bereederung Hamburg, Germany |
2013-2021 |
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Director |
Dutch set-up Bore Rettig Group, Helsinki, Finland |
2007-2014 |
